The gothic frontier drama, shot in Manitoba, has received favourable reviews from critics, who compare the story to the Bronte sisters on the Prairies instead of the moors. (Jamie Hall)Northern District Times (Australia) talks about the Brontë performances in Sydney:
The play questions what inspired them to follow their passion in a time where women’s talents and ambitions were strongly opposed rather than supported.North Side interviews Laura Francis, who plays Emily Brontë in this production:
[Joanne] Sanders said she chose to produce Brontë because she was passionate about exploring the way women’s roles were represented in society.
“I read the script and fell in love with it instantly,” Sanders said.
“The vision of strong female roles created from the play and underlying themes are expressed through the dialogue.
“As Emily Brontë says during her speech, she is ‘free to be whatever she might imagine’.
“That is an integral part of what inspires her to write and what influential factors shape her.”
Sanders said she was also interested in the way the sisters overcame obstacles and persevered, creating what are now considered to be outstanding literacy works.
“The sisters were born into an oppressive era in which females were not given equal opportunities such as an education, those rights were bestowed to the son of the family,” Sanders said.
“It explores the lives of pioneering women who remain role models for us and other women to this day.”
At its heart, Brontë is a heartfelt and inspirational play about not giving up, even when the odds of succeeding are low.
“It is a play that encompasses our theatrical ambitions,” Sanders said. (Melissa Davey)
How do you portray one of the biggest names in literary history? If you’re Lindfield actress Laura Francis, the answer is “carefully”.Deccan Chronicle (India) has opinions, both in favour and against, on the comic versions of books. Both opinions are, in fact, very simplistic:
“The only thing you can do is to try and take in as much as possible,” she said. “It’s a big task but it’s an interesting one.”
Francis, 25, is tackling the role of Emily Brontë, author of Wuthering Heights in the new play Brontë, by British writer Polly Teale, at Studio 1, The Wharf until August 1.
Contrary to expectations, there’s not a bonnet in sight in the play, which puts the lives of the three sibling writers - Charlotte, Emily and Anne - under the microscope to examine their passion for writing, despite a culture where such ambitions were discouraged.
“So often with women in plays, they’re the ‘beauty’ of the play or they’re the woman behind the man,” said Francis, who along with the other actors will go on stage without make-up and “disgusting centre parts” lest their attractiveness detract from the achievements of the three sisters.
“But these three women are complicated, they’re like the women they write about. They’re not the usual heroines,” she said.
Francis had barely read any Brontë when she was first approached by friend Jennifer Williams (who plays Charlotte Brontë) to join the play last year. (Polly Simons)
However, there are those who feel classics should be left alone. “Please don’t touch the classics,” says Class 10 student Vasundhara Singh Bhati. “I don’t want to read Shakespeare or Emily Brontë in the comic form. The feel of the novel goes away. Comics cannot do justice to these classics. However, I’d love to read a comic version of the Twilight series, the book will become much more interesting with pictures,” she says nonchalantly. Not everyone is against the idea of reading a classic in the comic form. Says, Vibha Kundra, assistant manager, Signature Staff, “I wish there was a comic version of Jane Eyre when I was in school. At least, it would have spared me the torture. Comic versions of any book will be a success.Cathal Kelly in the Toronto Star has a suggestion for the creators of Jane Austen’s Fight Club:
Sure, Jane Austen’s Fight Club is awesome. But call me when they make Charlotte Bronte’s Straw Dogs.More suggestions. Jim Ludlow in The Guardian to Steven Moffat after Sherlock, his update on Sherlock Holmes for the BBC:
The massive cuts in budget by the Cameron-Clegg administration have reached the UK Film Council that will be suppressed. The Council was backing Andrea Arnold's Wuthering Heights project. We hope that the already current commitments will be respected but there is no confirmation. More information here.But, Moffat's recent tendency has been to go dark, so I'm holding out for Eyre: when Jane becomes a nanny for multimillionaire single parent Ed Rochester, it seems she's found her one true love. But viewer, beware ... There's a madwoman in the penthouse.
An open book discussion on Jean Rhys' Wide Sargasso Sea will take place at noon Wednesday. Joan Ormondroyd will facilitate. (The Ithaca Journal)Zhangtwo compares Jane Eyre 1944 and 1970. Dior Girl investigates settings in Wuthering Heights and Ibsen's A Doll's House. The Bookish Type interviews author Kate Kaynak:
What are your favorite books? What about them appeals to you?Soy Chai Bookshelf reviews Wuthering Heights 2009. Literature/Photos/Journal*ism has visited a place called Howarth that looks quite similar to Haworth, A blog devoid of all depth and thought is reading Wuthering Heights and Gealachs Blogg
(...) Jane Eyre (Charlotte Bronte) and Pride and Prejudice (Jane Austen): These classic love stories have surprisingly vibrant female main characters for their day.
Actually, I just finished J.E. yesterday... :-D
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