THE adaptation by Laura Kinsella of Charlotte Bronte’s Jane Eyre, written in 1847 is expertly done.
Laura has kept to the original plot whilst cutting out most of Jane’s early life. Her narrative is clear and easily understood.
She even found time to make costumes. I especially like the wedding dress she made for Louise Burgens’ Jane Eyre.
Both the adaptor and the actor bring out the strength of Jane’s character when facing adversity. Louise is especially good in scenes when her character is alone with Rochester.
In one of his best performances ever, Martin Clare captures the dark, brooding nature of Mr Rochester and looks handsome in the suit also sewn by Laura. He makes a dramatic entrance by falling off a horse to be helped up by Jane Eyre. His Mr Rochester is haughty and authoritarian and correctly describes himself as “abrupt and exacting.”
At the end his glazed eyes really do look blind. Did he use white contact lenses I wonder?
It is lovely to see 11-year-old Talia Matthews, whose dad, Chris, is co-directing the play, make her acting debut as Jane’s charge, Adele. Her French accent is good and the pupil of Heyes Lane Primary School, even manages a few words of French.
An interesting aspect of the show is the revolving set made up of three sections .One shows the window seat at Thornfield, another portrays a bedroom which, at times is used as Mrs Reid’s, Jane’s and Bertha’s room, and the third shows the schoolroom which doubles up as the church in the wedding scene. All very clever!
The mad cackles of Eleanor Cardoza as insane Bertha haunt scenes and her dark makeup is forbidding.
Joan Jones as the homely Mrs Fairfax, brings warmth to the not overly friendly Thornfield Hall.
The wedding scene in which Rochester’s first marriage is revealed is well done and the relationship of Jane and Rochester sorely and movingly tested.
I wondered how the Thespians would tackle the scene of the fire. Flashing lights and dry ice are the solution.
The innovative ideas come from a director who has also adapted the play and made costumes – none other than, Laura Kinsella.
* At Dunham Massey Village Hall until Saturday April 23 For tickets telephone 07942 823 600 or see dunhamthespians.org.uk. Star rating: * * * *
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