Staged in The Yard, Chicago Shakes’ adaptable and cavernous second theater space, Rice’s Wuthering Heights peels back the complicated trappings of its era, Northern England in the mid-1800s, and instead presents a production where several actors duplicate supporting roles, all the show’s props and set pieces are visible in the wings, and costumes and effects are simple yet eye-catching (Vicki Mortimer designed both costumes and sets). Together, it all evokes the weather-worn, wind-swept harshness of the story’s setting, the moors that surround the estate known as Wuthering Heights and the nearby Thrushcross Grave. A small (but talented) band takes up residency upstage to complete the setting and contributes stirring music that serves as part film score and part Greek Chorus (but more on that later).
As Rice (and her characters, at times) can tell you, the story at the center of Wuthering Heights is quite a bit to follow; more than once, this adaptation pauses its own narrative and breaks the fourth wall to check in with its audience and make sure we’re all following who’s who and, perhaps more importantly, who’s still with us and who’s met their tragic end (at first, it’s mainly the parents our main characters held dear). This thread of self-awareness runs throughout the show, and it’s a small but significant way Rice adds a sense of the contemporary to her period piece. [...]
The opening night performance that I attended featured a few ensemble members stepping in for key roles (a card in our programs indicated that Catherine, Mr. Earnshaw and others were being played by actors other than the ones originally noted), and unfortunately, the show’s momentum was briefly paused due to an unexpected technical issue mid-way through Act I that resulted in an impromptu intermission. But neither of these things dampened the show’s overall impact; if anything, attendees on any other night might see an even better version than Saturday’s innovative, enthralling performance. Though Bront ultimately has written a cautionary tale filled with tragedy, death and the high price pëaid for unchecked ambition, she infuses Wuthering Heights with a passion and romance that Rice ensures is palpable in her worthy and memorable stage adaptation. (Lisa Trifone)
People shares an excerpt from a short story written by actress Jessica Simpson,
Movie Star. Movie Star started on small talk, and as he leaned in, I had the presence of mind to know, Oh, this is what it's like to be hit on. Because, other than my ex-boyfriend, no man had ever been so upfront about looking at me in a provocative way. At least that I wanted to look at me that way. He placed a hand on my hip and leaned in so I could hear him better.
Only he talked even softer.
I felt a funny feeling. I watched his lips move, but the rest of the world was in a dreamy focus. I was a big reader to make up for dropping out of high school, so I had read enough of Jane Austen and the Brontë sisters to know what was happening. This wasn't love, but it was something dreamy. This is what they talk about when they talk about swooning, I thought. This is one of those swoon moments.
This was different than the guilty butterflies that boys my age brought on when I thought something might be possible. This was real.
Página 12 (Argentina) also has a short story with a Brontë mention.
Un fuego ocasional by Fernando Krapp:
El fuego es efímero, bello y fotogénico. Se relaciona con el exceso y la destrucción. Es un catalizador de pasiones. El melodrama ha hecho del fuego un estandarte. No pude contener las lágrimas cuando en Jane Eyre de Charlotte Brontë, la esposa de Rochester, la loca del altillo, prende fuego la casa y el dueño queda ciego. Se quiebran las pasiones contenidas entre Jane, institutriz que ama a su empleador, Rochester, que no sabe qué hacer con su vida, y la de la esposa, atrapada en un mundo de sombras y de olvidos. El fuego sella la historia y da sentido. (Translation)
Culturplaza (Spain) interviews writer Desirée Ruiz, a Brontëite.
-En Villa Melania haces un homenaje a clásicos demoníacos tan diferentes como Rebeca y Jane Eyre. ¿En qué medida han marcado tu novela?
-Mucho porque soy una gran lectora de ese tipo de novelas. Precisamente
Jane Eyre es mi novela favorita. Las hermanas Brontë son mis escritoras favoritas. Y
Rebeca también tiene algo muy misterioso, que va quedándose ahí aunque pasen los años. Es una novela que siempre puedes releer y te genera siempre las mismas sensaciones. Me gustan las novelas que tienen ese aspecto misterioso, gótico, que rompe un poco con nuestra realidad, que es tan fría a veces.
(Sara Cano) (Translation)
0 comments:
Post a Comment