The script is full of playful one-liners and has a smattering of amusingly surreal moments

Gay Times reviews Underdog: The Other Other Brontë.

Directed by Natalie Ibu, it moves at a punchy pace, with two acts of about an hour each. Stylistically it’s an unusual period-modern blend, featuring some traditional costuming and very much set during their lifetimes, yet with elements of contemporary fashion and a handful of present-day references. Despite the name, it feels as though the show is predominantly about Charlotte – playing the role of host, she occasionally addresses the audience directly and provides narrative links between scenes – it all feels as though we’re seeing her version of events, with a focus on her personal journey.

It’s a smart show, full of clever little observations, and it’s also surprisingly funny. We see the ambition of the three sisters, frustrated at the lack of equal opportunity and devising plans to succeed in a man’s world; in particular we witness the sometimes ugly ambition of Charlotte, who will let nothing – not even loyalty to her own family – stand in the way of her desire to be ‘in the room where it happens’ and become as renowned as the likes of Byron. The script is full of playful one-liners and has a smattering of amusingly surreal moments too.

We enjoyed our evening with Underdog: The Other Other Brontë. It tells the story of some of our most cherished novelists in an engaging and witty way, and raises some interesting questions at the same time. (Chris Selman)

A contributor to The Bubble discusses the literary references in Taylor Swift's latest album, The Tortured Poets Department.

Aside from Swift’s own intentions, I couldn’t help but make my own links to some of my favourite texts, when listening to this album, as there are many lyrics that perfectly represent them. ‘I Can Fix Him (No Really I Can)’, for example, immediately reminded me of the original delusional romantic, Jane Eyre. Despite the revelation that Rochester had been hiding his ex-wife, Bertha Mason, in his attic for years, Jane still declares ‘Reader, I married him’. She blatantly disregards this abhorrent act, which should surely have been a forewarning. I am sure that all readers of Charlotte Bronte’s novel, Jane Eyre, would be in agreement that Taylor’s lyric ‘They shake their heads Saying “God help her” when I Tell ‘em he’s my man’ is an accurate representation of our reaction to the tale’s outcome. (Bella Farley)

We think this applies more to novels like The Tenant of Wildfell Hall by Anne Brontë and not Jane Eyre so much.

According to NewsBytes, Wuthering Heights is one of 4 novels that 'captivate readers with their gripping plots'.