Information

Show Credits: Book by John Caird
Music and Lyrics by Paul Gordon
Additional Lyrics by John Caird

Description: JANE EYRE is a haunting retelling of the Charlotte Bronte classic about an orphan girl who grows up to become the governess of Thornfield Hall. There she meets and falls in love with the enigmatic Edward Rochester, an Earl with a dark secret. Having overcome the obstacles brought on by an abusive childhood, the death of a childhood friend and the prejudice inherent in a relationship between two people socially worlds apart, Jane marries Rochester. Her wedding day is marred when she discovers his secret: he already has a wife, a half-crazed lunatic hidden in the attic.

Filled with soaring melodies and a romantic lyricism uncommon in the modern Broadway musical, JANE EYRE is a sweeping love story, breath-taking in its scope and beauty.

Insight from the experts Staging Tip: The action is set in England in the 1820s at Gateshead Hall, Lowood School, Thornfiled Hall and the surronding moors of North Yorkshire.

The scenes change regularly as the story progresses so a design solution that is swiftly and sliently adaptable is essential. The drama must not be obliged to stop in order to accomodate heavy scenic devices.

Lighting can obviously be an enormous help in the establishment of atmosphere and location as can the careful use of sound efects - the moorland wind and the wild birds of the English countryside being particularly apposite.

The Ensemble of actors can be used imaginatively in the creation of the settings. Jane herself narrates the drama while the story concerns her life as a little girl - YOUNG JANE - but as soon as she grows up the ENSEMBLE take over her narrative role and can therefore be used throughout the performance to help in creating the physical environment for the story when they are not engaged in playing the other characters.

Jane Eyre can be performed by 9 women, 5 men and 3 children, or more if greater numbers are artistically desired or professionally necessary. The following character list can therefore be doubled according to the numbers and talents of the available performers. It can be seen from the original Broadway cast list how we managed it there, but new producers and directors should by no means be constrained by our method. The lines in the script designated for the Ensemble should be divided up amongst the available cast members according to the vocal suitability and character availability - the actress playing the part of Jane not included. If more child performers can be afforded then more should be employed. 20 or 30 schoolgirls at Lowood would make a wonderful impression on the audience and give the child performers themselves the experience of a lifetime, though the backstage areas would be a lot more chaotic.