Jane is a winner

Playback Stl reviews the Mustard Seed Theatre production of Jane Eyre, adapted by Julie Beckman.

Beckman has written the script in “chamber” style, where lines from the book are directly quoted in the play. It takes a moment to mentally get in the rhythm, but once you do, it sounds natural despite its intrinsic artificiality.
Another unusual aspect of the production is identifying only two actors by name and role: Sarah Godefroid-Cannon as Jane and Shaun Sheley as Mr. (Edward) Rochester. The rest of the cast is credited as “ensemble,” and they are Gregory Cuellar, Katie Donnelly, Laura Ernst, Kathryn Hunter, Richard Lewis, Carmen Russell, Donna Weinsting, B. Weller, and Leslie Wobbe. If you know all of their work (which I do, except for Hunter who is a high school senior making her professional debut), it’s fun to see them display their versatility without specific credit. And there’s not a false note in the work except for one: the common problem of dialect. One of the cast members has a dialect coach credit, but as usual, some can do it and some can’t. Katie Donnelly is particularly good with an Irish brogue, which deserves mention. [...]
The actors set the mood from the beginning, when Jane enters, holding a candle and singing a lament about a “poor orphan child,” accompanied by the others as they come in one by one. Music is almost another character in this play as flute music (by Laura Ernst and Carmen Russell and composed by Leona Ernst) doesn’t just set the mood, but creates sound effects that extend screams and aggravate nightmares, as well as enhance lighter moments. The set is expansive and elegant with clever touches, the smartest of which is Jane telling us to imagine what it really looks like. Dunsi Dai and Michael Sullivan’s collaboration in scenic and lighting design is effective, as always. JC Kracijek’s costumes are period perfect, and Kareem Deanes’ sound adds much to the mood, whether good things are happening or bad things are going bump in the night. [...]
Godefroid-Cannon and Sheley have chemistry as a couple, but our Jane is no “little woman” in the traditional sense of her time. She has a lot of problems, goes away from what she wants, comes back, and triumphs in the end, which is exactly the way it should be. Artistic Director of the company Deanna Jent has directed another winner. (Andrea Braun)

IndieWire's ThePlaylist discusses Terrence Malick's To the Wonder and mentions his influence on Andrea Arnold's Wuthering Heights.

 Like Andrea Arnold's “Wuthering Heights,” which is Malick-esque at times (but which I found to be an oppressive portrait of so much excruciating mud, wind and rain over and over and over again), “To The Wonder” may make or break for you, depending on your tolerance for shots of women twirling in fields -- over and over and over again. 

Christian Bookworm Reviews interviews writer Beca Mark:

Who are your favorite authors? Favorite books?My favorite book is Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte. Jane was so blunt and spunky for her time. I wish I was more like her and try to be. I love this book so much I named my girl, Scarlett Jane. 

Tommy Starsson Movie Reviews picks Wuthering Heights as the book of the month.