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My complements to all connected with the production of Jane Eyre. I saw the show yesterday. It was wonderful. I don't think I will ever forget it. Thank you for presenting it. - Mike Muchmore We saw "Jane Eyre" recently. The performances were excellent. Greg Oliver Bodine was quite moving as Mr Rochester. Nat Cassidys portrayal of St. John Rivers was also very effective. Our party was made up of ages 13 to 60 plus and we all enjoyed the play. - Cindy Lee Truly a triumph. The acting was brilliant, the staging was great, and the directing was superb... I was drawn in and blown away... Carol was equally thrilled, I assure you. Not to repeat myself, but marvelous! - Joe Barone I'm so glad I had the chance to see Jane Eyre tonight. It was lovely. It sounds cliche, but it really did have me both laughing and in tears. The cast was fantastic, particularly Greg as Mr. Rochester. His lines were brilliant and he played them brilliantly. A wonderful experience all around. - Kylah Torre |
...Jane Eyre is an ambitious effort to stage a highly respected, 400 page novel. The fact that they were able to encapsulate the gist of the novel in a two-hour presentation is a feat unto itself... there are explorations of views on important themes such as social class, gender relations, morality and religion that are still pertinent today. While you may not be able to identify with corsets and Victorian restraint, the themes discussed in the novel and in this production should be familiar to you as components of the upcoming presidential election. Cindy Pierre - Talkin' Broadway - February 16, 2008 ...McClernan uses an array of clever devices to visualize the introverted narrative from the novel, and injects a few interesting twists toward the end. She also attempts humor and levity, something rarely done in the adaptation of Jane Eyre. ...the performers are very competent and often sparkling, with most of them pulling double roles. Mary Murphy makes an earnest, and sunnier than usual, Jane. Alice Connorton's Fairfax is warm and full-fleshed. Nat Cassidy's St. John is nuanced and particularly affecting... Greg Oliver Bodine's verbal delivery is smooth and refined. ...Worth noting, also, is the fact that my companions - four in all - enjoyed the play. nytheatre.com review - Kat Chamberlain - February 17, 2008 |
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Mary Murphy |
Jane Eyre | |
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Greg Oliver Bodine |
Edward Rochester/Fight director |
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| Nat Cassidy | St. John Rivers/Richard Mason/Robert/Tom |
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Bruce Barton |
Reverend Brocklehurst/Reverend Wood/Briggs/Villager |
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Alice Connorton |
Mrs. Fairfax/Aunt Reed |
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Annalisa Loeffler |
Blanche/Antoinette/Grace Poole/French Mistress/Dialect coach |
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Nancy G. McClernan |
Author/director |
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Reagan Wilson |
Assistant director/choreographer |
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Amanda Elaan |
Stage Manager |
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Viviane Galloway |
Costumes |
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Keith A. Truax |
Lighting designer | |
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Ciona Taylor Productions |
Publicity |
Lanie Zipoy |
Publicity |
Charles Jeffreys |
Photography |
Nancy Yberg |
Set Properties Design |
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Dan Wheeless |
Technical Director |
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Oliver Bodine |
Set construction |
photos by Charles Jeffreys
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Jane and Rochester |
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Jane and Rochester |
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Jane and Reverend Brocklehurst |
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There is an impediment |
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St. John Rivers and Jane |
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Jane |
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St. John Rivers |
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The Villager |
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The Mediterranean |
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...the acting hits on all cylinders. The 23 characters from the novel are reduced to 16, with four actors taking on various, memorable roles. Bruce Barton, resembling Kelsey Grammar in appearance, recycles his bombastic speaking voice for all the roles, but still manages to entertain. Alice Connorton and Annalisa Loeffler are both chameleons, deserving mention for their versatility. Unlike the novel, the production spends a great deal of time on Jane's experience with St. John Rivers, her cousin and potential mate. As Rivers, Nat Cassidy is much harsher and religious law-abiding that his character is in the novel, but it also helps us to understand why Jane runs back to Rochester. She not only still loves Rochester, but committing to Rivers is clearly a fate that she doesn't want for herself. The audience doesn't want that for her either.
