Misfit heroines

The AU Review gives 3 stars out of 5 to Shake and Stir’s touring production of Jane Eyre.

This adaptation at Riverside Parramatta adheres strongly to the source material. It contains all the Gothic elements the original novel is known and loved for, and it portrays them with skill and depth. The set design is inventive and to be commended for its complex simplicity. A highlight was undoubtedly the creative use of pyrotechnics which went a long way to creating authenticity and atmosphere.

Maddison Burridge is fantastic as Jane, managing to capture the characters strength and tenacity while displaying a vulnerability which made her relatable. This was perfectly paired with Julian Garner’s portrayal of Rochester, one of the most confounding romantic leads in literature. He imbued wit and passion into the role, managing to maintain the mystery that is so essential to his character. Together, these two actors were the standouts of the performance.

As this was a smaller cast of four, one person would play numerous roles. Often this can work and does not impact the overarching story, but in this instance, it was confounding. The difference between the housekeeper Mrs Fairfax and a rich suitor Miss Ingram (both played by Jodie Le Vesconte) appeared to be the addition of a fan and a posher accent. I feel like more could have been done here to really differentiate between the two vastly different characters. Having said that, Jodie Le Vesconte did an incredible job with what she had.

The same could be said for Hilary Harrison who plays the young French girl Adèle (among others). This character was portrayed as some sort of ventriloquist dummy, a big pink bow in her hair and vacant expression on her face. While I appreciate Adèle is not a pivotal character in the story, this portrayal of her was questionable. Perhaps a physical representation of how Rochester always refers to her as his little doll, I’m not sure what value this interpretation provided other than a few laughs.

There were many moments throughout the production where it felt more like a comedy than a Gothic drama. The depiction of Aunt Reed’s death being one such moment where I wasn’t sure if I was supposed to find it amusing. While there is humour to be found in the witty banter between Jane and Rochester, and often with Mrs Fairfax, I was surprised at the parts of the narrative that were funny – whether intentional or not.

There are some truly brilliant aspects to this adaptation of Charlotte Brontë’s pivotal novel, and some that just miss the mark. It is no small feat to adapt such a well-known classic into a two hour play and this is a valuable interpretation. (Naomi Gall)

The Rochester City Newspaper is excited about a new, upcoming production of Jane Eyre:

Geva kicks off its 50th season with Elizabeth Williamson’s adaptation of Charlotte Brontë’s English Gothic story of poverty, longing, ruinous secrets, and resilience. Not long after the titular heroine, penniless and orphaned, takes work as a governess, she falls for her mysterious and temperamental employer, Mr. Rochester. But his not-so-settled past disrupts their would-be happiness. I’m looking forward to how Williamson tackles Brontë’s dated treatment of madness and power dynamics. (Rebecca Rafferty)

The Boston Globe reviews Maggie O'Farrell's new novel, The Marriage Portrait.

Like many a classic heroine (Jane Eyre, Cathy Earnshaw, and Lily Briscoe came to mind at various points), Lucrezia is a misfit in her family and her society: smarter and more outspoken than other girls, less dutiful and conventional. She rejects dolls, refuses to wear shoes or to play with her siblings, “preferring instead to spend her time on her own, running like a savage” or “looking out at the city and the distant hills beyond.” A talented artist, she is passionate, willful, and dreamy. (Priscilla Gilman)

Jane Eyre 2011 has made it onto a list of '100 Unmissable BBC Films' compiled by The Film Magazine.

39. Jane Eyre (2011) (...)

Cary Joji’s Fukunaga’s adaptation of the ever-popular Charlotte Brontë novel of the same name uses Art Direction to emulate the gothic nature of the original story, filming certain interior scenes by only candle and fire light.

Often adapted to the screen, innovations were made when filming the period drama in an attempt to strive for originality, Jane Eyre being nominated for Best Costume Design at both the BAFTAs and Academy Awards.

The plot follows the point of view of a mousey governess, Jane Eyre (Mia Wasikowska), whose small, timid appearance belies the fiercely independent spirit within. She finds her equal in her new employer, Mr Rochester (Michael Fassbender), whose dark past threatens to destroy their newly found love. (KD)

El País (Spain) mentions Cathy and Heathcliff in an article on Shakira and Gerard Piqué's breakup.

El suyo, como el de Ilsa y Rick, no será un amor colmado. Como tampoco lo fueron el de Gatsby y Daisy o el de Heathcliff y Catherine. En la historia de la literatura no existe de hecho el amor colmado, bien porque se encuentra plagado de obstáculos para consumarse, bien porque está abocado a una ruptura o bien por la mera geometría del deseo que, como se sabe, garantiza el agotamiento. (Nuria Labari) (Translation)

Blunder alert from Entertainment (Ireland):

Based off of Jane Eyre's 'Emma', 'Clueless' follows shallow, rich and socially successful Cher at the top of her Beverly Hills high school's pecking order. (Simon Kelly)