Guest Blog by Alley Theatre
By: Alley Theatre Artistic Director, Rob Melrose
A heroine for today, the character Jane Eyre is one of the most compelling in the history of the English novel. She is strong. She is resilient. She is pragmatic. At the core, Charlotte Brontë’s heroine refuses to relinquish a sense of self. She dreams of a better life. In Elizabeth Williamson’s stunning translation of the novel for the stage, Jane is portrayed as a young woman striving for a life of her own. The vitally passionate love she feels for the captivating Rochester is at the core of the action, and yet she values her own worth and integrity above that feeling. Because of her strength, we believe the world can be a better place.
I came across the character of Jane in Junior High School, like so many since the book was published almost two hundred years ago and was inspired by her grit and determination. She was a beacon of hope for what could be possible for a young, shy, and introverted me. With a society, economic system, and class system stacked against her, Jane perseveres, forging a place for herself in the world and striving for the love she feels for the compelling Rochester. Jane Eyre is both a love story and a ghost story and it is important to balance both elements while keeping the strength and agency of Jane at the center.
Alley Theatre Artistic Director Rob Melrose adds, “I have a tremendous passion for the classics, which is why I’m so excited to experience this brilliant adaptation of one of the greatest novels ever written. A great adaptation reminds people why they love the novel and rekindles that love. It also creates new fans out of people who haven’t read the novel and makes them want to read it themselves. This adaptation does both beautifully. Jane Eyre is such a compelling story. On the one hand, it is a young woman’s odyssey as she navigates all the obstacles of growing up in 19th-century England. On the other hand, it is a passionate romance that really grabs you. Jane is one of the most beloved characters in English literature, and this adaptation makes it clear why that is!”
Ticket Information: Performances of Jane Eyre begin Friday, April 12 to Sunday, May 5 in the Hubbard Theatre. Tickets to Jane Eyre are now on sale, starting at $29. Discounted tickets are available for military, seniors, educators and any student, regardless of age, with a valid ID for designated performances in designated sections. Tickets can be ordered online at alleytheatre.org or by phone at 713.220.5700.