Polling at Thornfield: Kind Rochester vs Evil Jane

 Oregon Arts Watch reviews the current outdoor production of Jane Eyre in Ashland, OR:

The novel Jane Eyre is a soul favorite of mine, beloved since I first read it when I was 10.  It’s been adapted many times (I’m partial to the 2011 film with Mia Wasikowska and Michael Fassbender) but it’s a story notoriously difficult to capture in its fullness. I would not say that the adaptation used for this summer’s production at OSF, by Elizabeth Williamson, manages that feat — I don’t think Williamson has managed to capture the contemporary relevance of the story’s central dilemma and the importance of Jane and Mr. Rochester as heroes. But as directed by Dawn Monique Williams, and featuring two charismatic leads, OSF’s Jane Eyre is a swoony romance with a captivating heroine. It capitalizes on the most accessible beats of the story. (...)

I love and identify with Jane for complicated reasons, but have always felt that Mr. Rochester is just as much a key to this story, and less well understood. Armando McClain is a wonderful Rochester — powerful, imposing, and also kind. He and Greenberry capture thve connection between the two, even while the adaptation feels lighter than the source material. (...)

Fortunately, I doubt anyone will have trouble entering the story and rooting for Jane and Rochester, who are supported by a very fine ensemble. Director Williams has injected some moments of lightness and joy that may communicate indirectly that barriers that feel insurmountable are not necessarily so — and I hope some audience members will reflect on what this story might have to say about the barriers that feel just as unsolvable today. (Darlene Ortega)

Brontë Birthplace Thornton announces ongoing renovation works at the Brontë Birthplace, including the discovery of historical artifacts:

During the careful restoration process, we have uncovered some fascinating items that provide a glimpse into the past.

Among the treasures found within the walls were sections of original ceiling plaster, horsehair plaster from hidden reveals, and lead piping from the internal gas lamps circa 1850.

These relics not only tell the story of the Brontë family’s life in Thornton but also highlight the meticulous craftsmanship of the period.

The New York Times recaps House of Dragon's episode The Burning Mill (S02E03):

The one-eyed prince responds to his brother and liege’s taunting in a bustling brothel by standing up buck naked and walking by as though completely unbothered. The young man seems to vibrate on a different frequency than his family does; like an evil Jane Eyre, he has a touch of the unearthly about him, conveyed skillfully by the actor Ewan Mitchell. (Sean T. Collins)

On Sunny Coast Media Mapleton (Australia) is preparing the Wuthering Heights Red Dress Day:

The Wuthering Heights of Mapleton - Red Dress Day Organising Committee, under the aegis of Mapleton and District Community Association (MADCA) is proud to be preparing for their special community day and fundraiser, to be held at 1pm on Sunday July 28, 2024, at Mapleton Lilyponds Park.

Wuthering Heights Red Dress Day is a worldwide movement, typically held on pop singer Kate Bush’s birthday (July 30) where communities come together wearing bright red outfits whilst learning to perform Kate Bush’s famous dance to her 1978 hit song, 

Interior design by David O'Brien in The Irish Independent:

The curtains in his own room are Tetbury Curtains in charcoal (from €143), also with voile. “I love the way they flow in the wind. It’s very Wuthering Heights.” (Eleanor Flegg)

AnneBrontë.org discusses the Brontë family's political views in 19th century England, noting their Tory leanings despite being unable to vote and speculating on how their views might translate to modern political alignments.