Jane Eyre
Mon, 5 Dec 2011, 02:26 pmGordon the Optom2 posts in thread
Jane Eyre
Mon, 5 Dec 2011, 02:26 pm‘Jane Eyre’ by Charlotte Brontë was written and based in 1847. This wonderful adaptation from the Brontë mammoth 400-page, 38-chapter novel is by Robert Johanson. He has managed to retain the richness of the writing, the depth of the story and yet present it in a most acceptable, light-hearted and entertaining way. There are even passages where you find yourself laughing out loud.
This greatly loved play is being presented magnificently by the Harbour Theatre, and showing at the Port Cineaste Building, 70 Adelaide Street, Fremantle (opposite Woolworths).
Performances commence at 7.30 pm until 17th December. Matinee on Sunday 11th December commencing at 2.00 pm.
Charlotte’s mother died of cancer when Charlotte was only 5 years old, and this event could well have been the inspiration for this pathetic tale of an orphaned girl. At the age of only eight she was sent with her three sisters, to a Boarding School for the children of the Clergy. The meagre treatment led to her two older sisters, Maria and Elizabeth, becoming unwell and dying of tuberculosis only one year later.
The Reverend Brontë removed Charlotte and Emily from the school, and they lived in the Haworth Parsonage on the Yorkshire Moors with their brother, Bramwell, and sister, Anne - Charlotte acted as mother.
At 16 she went to school in Mirfield, (birth place of ‘Star Trek’ actor Patrick Stewart), near Brighouse and it was here at the age of 17, that under the name of Wellesley, she wrote her first novella ‘Green Dwarf’.
Charlotte was a staunch, outspoken Tory until her death at only 38.
Jane Eyre (Madelaine Page) is a young, orphaned girl. When Jane’s parents die, she goes to live with her aunt and cousins, the Reeds, at Gateshead Hall. Bessie Lee (Ashley Conway), the nursemaid at Gateshead treats Jane kindly. However, Mrs. Sarah Reed (Vickie Billingham), her aunt by marriage, hates and neglects Jane and allows her son John (Cal Houseman) to torment the girl.
Jane has a loveless childhood. Religiously self-righteous, Eliza Reed (Stella Hebb / Sophia Bartlett) is bitter because she is not as attractive as her sister. Georgiana Reed (Shani Peters) is malicious, audacious, but beautiful. Jealous Eliza throws a spanner in the works with her marriage to a wealthy Lord. A servant, Abbott (Allivia Bartlett) constantly reminds Jane that she’s deprived and insignificant. In return, Jane tells them all what she thinks of them, and is locked in the bedroom where her uncle died,
A concerned apothecary recommends that Jane be sent to a devout boarding school for orphans, Lowood Institute. The duplicitous headmaster is a tyrannical, bible-thumping clergyman, Mr. Brocklehurst (Samuel Holland) who physically and mentally abuses of the pupils. The school’s caring supervisor, Miss Temple (Jessica Rawnsley), helps protect the children from the headmaster and the resentful and brutal teacher, Miss Scatcherd (Carmen Giadresco). Jane finds a virtuous buddy, Helen Burns (Nicole Dunne). When an epidemic of typhus breaks out at the school, Helen dies in Jane's arms.
Jane (Kathryn Riordan) now an adult teaches at the school for three years, before becoming a governess, to a little French girl, Adèle Varens (Daisy Bygott-Dwyer), at a country house called Thornfield Hall. Adèle is Mr. Rochester's ward and possibly his daughter. The compassionate housekeeper, Mrs. Fairfax (Vickie Billingham), is an elderly widow and is helped around the Hall by a young servant, Leah (Pepita Ruiz). Their master is the stern, mystifying but very handsome, Edward Rochester (Christopher Kenworthy), to whom Jane is immediately attracted. On the third floor of the Hall, lives the eccentric maid, Grace Poole (Trevor Dhu) who Jane thinks she hears cackling and screaming at all hours of the night.
Rochester holds a soiree for his wealthy friends, including the attractive Blanche Ingram (Carmen Miles) and her sister Mary (Melissa Klimisch). Blanche sees herself as the future lady of the manor. During the evening the butler, John (Phil Redding) announces that a guest has arrived from Madeira, a Richard Mason (Peter Kirkwood). Rochester is obviously upset by his presence. Mason sneaks up to the third floor where he is stabbed and bitten by an unknown mad woman (Jo Sterkenburg).
Jane learns that her aunt is very sick and goes back to Gateshead. When she forgives her aunt for all the mistreatment, her aunt tells her of an important letter that she has held back for many years.
Jane then returns to Thornfield and realises how much she is in love with Rochester. He proposes and Jane accepts.
At the wedding, a solicitor, Mr Briggs (Andy Markland) announces that Edward has another wife – still alive. Horrified, Jane leaves and takes up a post with the Calvinistic reverend, St. John Rivers (Chris Lucani) who is teaching the poor children of the area (including Ariel Mazzer, Katie Zangerl).
Will Jane ever marry? If so, for love or to be an unpaid servant?
It is said that a competent director will always find a quality cast. Nicola Bond has gathered a massive cast, all of whom are entirely in tune with their parts; everyone has embraced their characters absolutely. They are totally focused and word and perfect. The accents were true to the North Yorks and Geordie area, and I was convinced that Daisy was indeed French. Many of the cast have minimal stage experience and yet they all have stage presence.
The casting was faultless. Young Jane must have had half the audience clutching their tissues. The older Jane conveyed the moral innocence, with just the right amount of feminine strength of character. Rochester was handsome and fiery. Mr Brocklehurst was obnoxious and could put fear into even the toughest child. The full magic of this admired book came to life vividly.
The really powerful performances were filled with chemistry and near faultless.
The huge team of set builders, art-workers and props finders gave us several locations complete with trimmings; all set changes were rapid and superbly stage-managed by Andy Markland and Phil Redding. The main set was of an impressive balcony in Thornfield. The multitude of costumes were made, or obtained, by Brenda Stanley and Nicola Bond. Some of the gowns were stunning. Nicole Miller and Tracey Simpson supervised the makeup and hair.
Rob Tagliaferri and Peter Kirkwood’s lighting was complex, with good effects - such as the fire scenes and the dream sequence, which worked particularly well. The excellent soundscape and music, designed by Nicola Bond and Vanessa Gudgeon was operated by Vanessa.
Every now and again a real treasure comes along; here we have a difficult play, presented with skill and masses of talent. You can see the vast amount of work that has gone into this slick production. A must see, although be warned, last night was a sell-out. With the Fremantle Festival being on, give yourself plenty of time to park.
This greatly loved play is being presented magnificently by the Harbour Theatre, and showing at the Port Cineaste Building, 70 Adelaide Street, Fremantle (opposite Woolworths).
Performances commence at 7.30 pm until 17th December. Matinee on Sunday 11th December commencing at 2.00 pm.
Charlotte’s mother died of cancer when Charlotte was only 5 years old, and this event could well have been the inspiration for this pathetic tale of an orphaned girl. At the age of only eight she was sent with her three sisters, to a Boarding School for the children of the Clergy. The meagre treatment led to her two older sisters, Maria and Elizabeth, becoming unwell and dying of tuberculosis only one year later.
The Reverend Brontë removed Charlotte and Emily from the school, and they lived in the Haworth Parsonage on the Yorkshire Moors with their brother, Bramwell, and sister, Anne - Charlotte acted as mother.
At 16 she went to school in Mirfield, (birth place of ‘Star Trek’ actor Patrick Stewart), near Brighouse and it was here at the age of 17, that under the name of Wellesley, she wrote her first novella ‘Green Dwarf’.
Charlotte was a staunch, outspoken Tory until her death at only 38.
Jane Eyre (Madelaine Page) is a young, orphaned girl. When Jane’s parents die, she goes to live with her aunt and cousins, the Reeds, at Gateshead Hall. Bessie Lee (Ashley Conway), the nursemaid at Gateshead treats Jane kindly. However, Mrs. Sarah Reed (Vickie Billingham), her aunt by marriage, hates and neglects Jane and allows her son John (Cal Houseman) to torment the girl.
Jane has a loveless childhood. Religiously self-righteous, Eliza Reed (Stella Hebb / Sophia Bartlett) is bitter because she is not as attractive as her sister. Georgiana Reed (Shani Peters) is malicious, audacious, but beautiful. Jealous Eliza throws a spanner in the works with her marriage to a wealthy Lord. A servant, Abbott (Allivia Bartlett) constantly reminds Jane that she’s deprived and insignificant. In return, Jane tells them all what she thinks of them, and is locked in the bedroom where her uncle died,
A concerned apothecary recommends that Jane be sent to a devout boarding school for orphans, Lowood Institute. The duplicitous headmaster is a tyrannical, bible-thumping clergyman, Mr. Brocklehurst (Samuel Holland) who physically and mentally abuses of the pupils. The school’s caring supervisor, Miss Temple (Jessica Rawnsley), helps protect the children from the headmaster and the resentful and brutal teacher, Miss Scatcherd (Carmen Giadresco). Jane finds a virtuous buddy, Helen Burns (Nicole Dunne). When an epidemic of typhus breaks out at the school, Helen dies in Jane's arms.
Jane (Kathryn Riordan) now an adult teaches at the school for three years, before becoming a governess, to a little French girl, Adèle Varens (Daisy Bygott-Dwyer), at a country house called Thornfield Hall. Adèle is Mr. Rochester's ward and possibly his daughter. The compassionate housekeeper, Mrs. Fairfax (Vickie Billingham), is an elderly widow and is helped around the Hall by a young servant, Leah (Pepita Ruiz). Their master is the stern, mystifying but very handsome, Edward Rochester (Christopher Kenworthy), to whom Jane is immediately attracted. On the third floor of the Hall, lives the eccentric maid, Grace Poole (Trevor Dhu) who Jane thinks she hears cackling and screaming at all hours of the night.
Rochester holds a soiree for his wealthy friends, including the attractive Blanche Ingram (Carmen Miles) and her sister Mary (Melissa Klimisch). Blanche sees herself as the future lady of the manor. During the evening the butler, John (Phil Redding) announces that a guest has arrived from Madeira, a Richard Mason (Peter Kirkwood). Rochester is obviously upset by his presence. Mason sneaks up to the third floor where he is stabbed and bitten by an unknown mad woman (Jo Sterkenburg).
Jane learns that her aunt is very sick and goes back to Gateshead. When she forgives her aunt for all the mistreatment, her aunt tells her of an important letter that she has held back for many years.
Jane then returns to Thornfield and realises how much she is in love with Rochester. He proposes and Jane accepts.
At the wedding, a solicitor, Mr Briggs (Andy Markland) announces that Edward has another wife – still alive. Horrified, Jane leaves and takes up a post with the Calvinistic reverend, St. John Rivers (Chris Lucani) who is teaching the poor children of the area (including Ariel Mazzer, Katie Zangerl).
Will Jane ever marry? If so, for love or to be an unpaid servant?
It is said that a competent director will always find a quality cast. Nicola Bond has gathered a massive cast, all of whom are entirely in tune with their parts; everyone has embraced their characters absolutely. They are totally focused and word and perfect. The accents were true to the North Yorks and Geordie area, and I was convinced that Daisy was indeed French. Many of the cast have minimal stage experience and yet they all have stage presence.
The casting was faultless. Young Jane must have had half the audience clutching their tissues. The older Jane conveyed the moral innocence, with just the right amount of feminine strength of character. Rochester was handsome and fiery. Mr Brocklehurst was obnoxious and could put fear into even the toughest child. The full magic of this admired book came to life vividly.
The really powerful performances were filled with chemistry and near faultless.
The huge team of set builders, art-workers and props finders gave us several locations complete with trimmings; all set changes were rapid and superbly stage-managed by Andy Markland and Phil Redding. The main set was of an impressive balcony in Thornfield. The multitude of costumes were made, or obtained, by Brenda Stanley and Nicola Bond. Some of the gowns were stunning. Nicole Miller and Tracey Simpson supervised the makeup and hair.
Rob Tagliaferri and Peter Kirkwood’s lighting was complex, with good effects - such as the fire scenes and the dream sequence, which worked particularly well. The excellent soundscape and music, designed by Nicola Bond and Vanessa Gudgeon was operated by Vanessa.
Every now and again a real treasure comes along; here we have a difficult play, presented with skill and masses of talent. You can see the vast amount of work that has gone into this slick production. A must see, although be warned, last night was a sell-out. With the Fremantle Festival being on, give yourself plenty of time to park.