Orthopraxy, gothic, and romance

The Chattanoogan announces a new Jane Eyre adaptation to be performed in Lookout Mountain, GA:

Director Camille Hallstrom said, “Jane Eyre is not primarily a romance novel. It has conspicuous themes of practical Christian theology about how Christians act and behave, otherwise known as orthopraxy.”

Throughout the story, Jane confronts immensely difficult decisions between selfish behaviors and morally correct actions. However, the novel balances the elements of orthopraxy, gothic, and romance to create this blend of a fascinating story; it is not only one genre. 

With such daunting shoes to fill, script adapter Anya Klumpenhower sought to adapt the novel in a way that preserves Jane Eyre’s timelessness while also condensing the 700 page book into one evening's performance.

Actress Luisa Monteiro-Oliveira, starring as Jane, eagerly accepts the challenge of translating the character to the stage. "My favorite element of the novel is the intimacy Jane shares with the reader, what with us having access to her many internal monologues," said Ms. Monteiro-Oliveira, "yet now I've somehow got to translate everything learned from Jane's thoughts into my voice and body, and what an honor that is to take on!"

The show is adapted by Ms. Klumpenhower, directed by Prof. Hallstrom with senior Ms. Monteiro-Oliveira performing the title role for her Senior Capstone, and senior Jessica Seabolt designing the costumes for her Senior Capstone.

Jane Eyre will be performed on Nov. 14-15 at 7:30 p.m. with a matinee performance on Nov. 16 at 2:30 p.m. at Covenant College’s Sanderson Auditorium, 14049 Scenic Hwy., Lookout Mountain, Ga. 

The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reviews the local performances of The Moors: 

Drop the Brontë sisters in "The Twilight Zone," stir in a little Samuel Beckett, and you might approximate Jen Silverman’s dark comedy "The Moors."

Renaissance Theaterworks' sparkling new production consistently finds humor in Silverman's broody bleakness; I'm sure I annoyed the person next to me with my frequent guffawing.

Hired by mail, the governess Emilie (Kaylene Howard) arrives at a lonely house on the moors, much like one in a Brontë novel, only to find the man who apparently engaged her missing and any possible children to teach absent. But she does meet the tightly controlled, domineering Agatha (Sarah Sokolovic) and her flighty, attention-starved younger sister Huldey (Allie Babich) — and either one or two surly maids (Emily Vitrano). These people are definitely lonely and possibly nuts, stymieing Emilie's attempts to understand what's going on. (Jim Higgins)

The Northern Echo describes a visit to Haworth (although the title says Hawarth (sic), Hebden Bridge and Halifax:

I've never been to the wild and windy moors of Brontë country in West Yorkshire, so it seemed the perfect opportunity to put that right.(...)

Moving on, our next port of call was probably the most famous town in this part of the world - Haworth.

Renowned as the former home of the literary Brontë family, this town is certainly geared up for the many tourists who make a pilgrimage there from all over the world.

The biggest charm of this picturesque town is the main cobbled street - similar to the already mentioned Heptonstall - and its ancient buildings, many of which would be familiar to the Bronets themselves.

No Brontë stone is left unturned here as the many small businesses take full advantage of the town's famous associations.

One of the most popular draws is the Brontë Parsonage Museum, the former home of the Brontë family which houses many original pieces of furniture, letters, manuscripts and other Bontë ephemera.

But, as we had the hound with us, we gave it a swerve and instead opted for a very nice walk around the beautifully maintained Central Park, with its wide open spaces, bandstand and flower beds - truly a green oasis.

We couldn't come to Haworth without experiencing at least some of the famous wild and windy moors, which so inspired the literary sisters, most famously in Emily's Wuthering Heights.

So we headed out on a walk out of town to the 'Brontë waterfall'. It's a relatively easy route, the first half of which is largely on a road, followed by a rough track and finally some rougher terrain the closer we got to the famous feature.

The sun came out at this point, allowing us to marvel at the breathtaking scenery - we could see what the fuss was all about.

The waterfall itself wasn't the most spectacular I've ever seen and just how connected to Emily Brontë it is I'm not sure, but no matter, it was well worth the effort.

After clambering up to the Brontë waterfall and pausing on the Brontë bridge, we headed back for a well-earned pint of Brontë ale. (Andrew White)

Beats per Minute presents the latest album of Brontë Fall and, of course, it cannot avoid some Bronte witty comments:

Brontë Fall hits new (wuthering) heights on “Face The Night”

Nashville-based Teri Bracken records under the name Brontë Fall. The literature-loving artist has a great new album called Not Done Yet – a collection that’s reminiscent of mood-masters Rita Coolidge and Bonnie Raitt. Bracken’s “Face The Night” uses real horns to create a hypnotic feel, just like those acclaimed artists occasionally did. (Larry McClain)

GQ Magazine recommends short novels:

Wide Sargasso Sea by Jean Rhys

Among all the unofficial sequels, prequels and retellings in literature, Wide Sargasso Sea stands as one of the best. In Charlotte Brontë’s Jane Eyre, Edward Rochester has a mentally unstable first wife, Bertha, who’s locked in an upstairs room. More than a century later, Jean Rhys decided to tell the story of this “madwoman in the attic”. Bertha is fleshed out as Antoinette Cosway, the heiress of a wealthy Creole family in Jamaica, who marries an Englishman who eventually, after a very unhappy marriage, takes her far away from her homeland. It’s terse, angry and unforgettable. (Josiah Gogarty)

Collider lists films to see if you like Jane Austen:

Jane Eyre 2011

Having been trampled on and shoved aside since childhood, Jane Eyre (Mia Wasikowska) finally finds a suitable position as a governess for Mr. Edward Rochester's (Michael Fassbender) ward at Thornfield Hall. Though young and inexperienced, her intelligence and sharp mind attract Rochester's attention enough to make him fall in love with her. After making it seem like he's interested in Miss Ingram (Imogen Poots), Rochester professes his love to Jane and proposes. However, before they become husband and wife, a dreadful impediment is made known: Rochester already has a wife, and the violent woman has been locked up in the attic since she lost her sanity. Rochester pleads for Jane to stay, but she flees and starts a new life at Moor House. When St. John Rivers (Jamie Bell) proposes to her, Jane realizes she must return to Rochester and Thornfield Hall, but it's been destroyed in a fire set by Rochester's wife, who died in the blaze. Now, Jane and Rochester can begin their lives together.

Jane Eyre is a gothic romance and, therefore, slightly darker than most of Austen's stories (Northanger Abbey has its dark moments). Outside of Rochester's painful secret lurking in the attic, this is just another Regency romance set in a beautiful mansion in the English countryside. A penniless woman catches the eye of a rich landowner, and they fall in love and live happily ever after. Despite running away from reality with its almost fantastical romance, the story contains a certain amount of realism. Like many orphaned girls, Jane's life is hard, but Rochester's love miraculously saves her. That's very Austen-esque. (Hannah Furnell)

Esquire recommends Midnight Rooms by Donyae Coles:

Imagine Jane Eyre or Rebecca as rewritten by Virginia Woolf. I could not, hand on heart, say that I’ve grasped all the implications and secrets of this book or its strange household, but the disorienting flow of language makes Midnight Rooms one of the most remarkably written books of the year.  (Neil McRobert)

A novel, by the way, that Times Now News thinks you probably pretended to read in school:

Jane Eyre by Charlotte Brontë

In school, 'Jane Eyre' might have been dismissed as just another romantic story. Brontë's classic is a revolutionary story of independence, resilience, and self-respect. Jane's transformation from a neglected orphan to a strong, confident lady who forges her own way is both inspiring and empowering. The novel's investigation of social class, gender norms, and morality elevates it above the level of a love tale, making it a compelling monument to the human spirit.

These classic works may have felt like chores in school, but reading them again today helps you to appreciate their depth, complexity, and significance. They are not only amusing, but also provide insights about the human condition, society, and the modern world. So, if you pretended to read these in school, now is the moment to revisit them and understand why they remain literary masterpieces. Each book on this list provides something useful, whether it's a new perspective on life, an investigation of human nature, or a timeless lesson about society. (Girish Shukla)

The Happening (in Spanish) lists literary destinations:

El condado de Yorkshire, Inglaterra

Los páramos sombríos y salvajes de Yorkshire en el norte de Inglaterra sirvieron de inspiración para una de las novelas más pasionales y oscuras de la literatura: Cumbres Borrascosas. Emily Brontë plasmó la esencia inquietante de estos paisajes en la tormentosa historia de amor entre Heathcliff y Catherine.

¿Qué visitar?

El Museo Brontë Parsonage en Haworth es un excelente punto de partida. Aquí puedes explorar la antigua residencia de la familia Brontë y pasear por los caminos de los páramos, recreando las escenas que inspiraron a Emily. (Alexis Alanis) (Translation)

Écran Large (France) talks about Wuthering Heights 1992: 

Les Hauts de Hurlevent : l’adaptation mal-aimée et reniée par son réalisateur (...)

En 1992, le cinéaste Peter Kosminsky, qui s’était jusque-là illustré dans des documentaires pour la télévision, réalise pour la Paramount une nouvelle adaptation du roman d’Emily Brontë. Au casting, on y trouve Juliette Binoche, qui n’en est pas à son coup d’essai hollywoodien puisqu’elle avait joué un rôle principal quatre ans plus tôt dans L’insoutenable légèreté de l’être de Philip Kaufman, aux côtés de Daniel Day-Lewis. Pour le rôle masculin, la Paramount choisit un jeune comédien aperçu au théâtre et à la télévision : c’est Ralph Fiennes, qui fera ses premiers pas au cinéma en incarnant le cruel Heathcliff.

Si la version 1992 des Hauts de Hurlevent est mal-aimée, c’est peut-être en premier lieu parce que son roman est mal-aimable (et particulièrement tordu). (Translation)

And among the serious contenders for stupidest news, is a People article that recommends novels based on your zodiac sign. Wuthering Heights is for Scorpios. (Eye-rolling). Seldon's Blog shares a photo gallery of Jane Eyre 2006. The Brontë Sisters YouTube channel look into the sisters' daily life inside the Parsonage in the 1840s

More websites talking about the theatrical release of Wuthering Heights 2025 in Town & Country, World of Reel, Decider...