Jane Eyre District 01

hmmm
an odd production here's what I said for Sydney Arts Guide 
http://www.sydneyartsguide.com/View-Review.asp?ReviewID=1136
A Sydney premiere, this is a striking, rather unusual version that at times could be regarded as uneven and confusing if you didn’t know and love the book. (It is one my favourite books). However there are some very good parts and an excellent leading lady.

This is a sparse, somewhat conflated and abridged adaptation that generally sticks closely to the original book by Charlotte Bronte. There is some telescoping of time, characters and events but not much.

Many of the small cast play multiple roles, the only two who don’t are our Jane and Rochester. But was it really necessary to have them play Pilot the dog and Rochester’s horse as well?!

One of the great nineteenth century romances, the story is also partly Gothic horror, with madness and despair. The play also looks at the social conditions of the era, education, poverty and women’s position in society.

For those who do not know the story , in this version poor, obscure and plain Jane Eyre starts life as a lonely orphan in the household of her cold, hateful aunt Mrs Reed. Despite the oppression she endures at home, and the torments of boarding school,

Jane manages somehow to emerge with her integrity and spirit unbroken – but locked up in the attic of her imagination, lives a woman so passionate. So full of longing , she must be guarded constantly for fear of the havoc she might cause. When she finds a job as a governess at the mysterious Thornfield it seems she has finally met her match with the darkly fascinating Mr Rochester. But Thornfield Hall hides an explosive secret, one that could perhaps separate Jane and Rochester forever.

Anya Tamsin’s set design utilises the space well – sparse, simple pure white walls, tables with a few scattered chairs, movable benches… There is also an enclosed ‘glasshouse’ with a broken window that is Bertha’s domain. Throughout the show, at appropriate moments, there are ominous rumbles, rattles and chilling mad laughter that hint of what is to come and increase the sense of eeriness and tension.

District 01 is a relatively new theatre space , right in the heart of town in Oxford St, and very easy to get to .It is a vibrant and exciting ,small, rather ‘experimental’  studio space with columns and stairs that can be imaginatively utilized.

Our feisty, petite heroine Jane is excellently portrayed by Laura Huxley, in a severe purple dress with various changes of lace, apron and other accoutrements. Shy, downtrodden yet bright and talented and having survived an appalling childhood she rails against her dull, monotonous life. All changes when she moves to Thornfield to become Adele’s governess and meets Mr Rochester.  Upon the morning of her wedding day, just as she is to marry Mr Rochester, before disaster strikes she is a radiant, glowing bride.

However I am afraid our Mr Rochester as played by Eli King is a little disappointing. He tries his best, but is rather cold, aloof and wooden. There is no real sense of connection or predilection between Jane and Rochester for most of the show, despite the magnificent, passionate passages. This does pick up a bit in Act 2 though, and the reunion at the end was touching.

As one of my colleagues, it would have been interesting to see Ryan Gibson (who plays all the other male characters) as Rochester. He is horrid as Jane’s awful, bullying cousin John Reed, cold and imposing as Mr Brocklehurst and an excellent, charismatic, powerful and hypnotic St John Rivers.

There are several other meaty female roles with quite a few doublings/ triplings of characters.

Bertha, ‘the mad woman in the attic’, Rochester’s mad first wife, was chillingly portrayed by Beth Aubrey. In a red dress, she gave a terrific performance. While in some ways it is a good idea ,it just doesn’t quite work and could be confusing to those not familiar with the book to have Bertha as Jane’s alter ego/dark sexy side.

As Helen Burns, Adele and others, Tallay Wickham is delightful, an exquisite blonde fairy like Victorian angel. . Bessie, Mrs Fairfax and others were excellently portrayed by Cheryl Ward– solid , much needed friendly support for Jane. Jane’s very cold demanding Aunt Reed and others were very well played by Coralie Bywater, severe in black. The nightmarish, ghostly ‘red room’ scene is quite effective.

This production ends up being an unusual, quite efficient but slightly disappointing show that could possibly be better with a little tweaking.

The show runs 2 hours and 30 minutes including one interval.

A Virtue of Necessity Pty Ltd production, in association with Drama Queen Productions and Sea by Water Productions, directed by Fiona Pulford, Charlotte Bronte’ JANE EYRE, as adapted by Polly Teale, opened at District 1, corner Foley and Crown Street, just off Oxford Street, and runs until Saturday 14th July, 2012.

Tags: Sydney Theatre Reviews- JANE EYRE, District 1 Darlinghurst, Charlotte Bronte, Polly Teale, Fiona Pulford, Anya Tamsin, Laura Huxley, Ryan Gibson, Tally Wickham, Cheryl Ward, Coralie Bywater, Peter Love, Sydney Arts Guide, Lynne Lancaster.