[NEohioPAL]Cassidy's Jane Eyre Gets Great Review

[lenne at mindspring.com]

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This is a really long review, so I've highlighted the "juicy" parts.  Please come and see us!

Fridays, Saturdays at 8:00, Sundays at 3:00 through May 1
Cassidy Theatre 6200 Pearl Rd, Parma Heights   
Reservations: 440-842-4600

JANE EYRE'S ROMANTIC TALE OPENS AT CASSIDY by William B. Allman

Assignment--English 103--read Charlotte Bronte's Victorian novel "Jane Eyre".  An interesting but daunting assignment.

How many of us did so?  How then does one turn this Gothic novel into a musical?

Paul Gordon (music and lyrics) and John Caird (book) took the bull by the horns,(really the book by the binding) and brought this wonderful musical to life in an original production in Toronto in 1997 and onto a 2002 Broadway production with five Tony Award nominations shortly thereafter.

"Jane Eyre" opened at the Cassidy Theatre in Parma Heights on Friday.

Since Bronte's book is written in the first person with Jane telling her story, the adapters kept the same perspective by creating a physical presence for Jane's memories with a "memory ensemble" speaking as "Jane".  Director Lenne Snively wisely and most effectively carried this idea a bit further by creating two memory ensembles--one made up of young ladies who speak Jane's childhood memories and an adult ensemble who take over Jane's story as she matures. Ensemble members step from her memories to perform scenes from Jane's life giving Bronte's character a voice to be remembered in a whole new way.

Not only is the story interestingly portrayed but the music is simply glorious with 25 songs in the first act and 18 in the second.  Some of Bronte's own dialogue is worked into the lyrics and much of the story is told recitative style with the dialogue sung,  a good feature since some of the dialogue taken directly from the novel was a tad too long.  The character's accents and style of playing gave a nice feeling of English authenticity.  Several beautiful duets between Rochester and Jane are outstanding pieces of music.

The story is set in England in the 1820s and traces the life of Jane from her youth as a poor relation in a grand household through unhappy experiences in a school for unwanted orphans to her time as a governess at Thornfield Hall in North Yorkshire where she instructs Adele, the young ward of Edward Rochester, the master of the house.  Edward is struck by her simple beauty and proposes marriage but her brief moment of happiness is shattered when it is revealed that Edward's first wife is still living, a mad woman kept secretly sequestered at the Hall, an excellent dramatic turn of events.

If you remember the novel you'll know the end but sufficient to say the tale has a satisfying conclusion.  The story is very much Jane's quest to be loved, not only romantic love, but also a sense of being valued as a person and of belonging.  Published in 1847, the novel is somewhat autobiographical.  Bronte's work became one of the most successful novels of its era both critically and commercially.

A brilliantly written musical is only as effective as the cast that performs it and this group of actors is one of the most talented I have had the pleasure of viewing at Cassidy Theatre.  Kristin Netzband as Jane and David Erdei playing Rochester are superb in their roles both acting wise and vocally and form a strong relationship with the audience.  Beth O. Cubbison and Jared Sampson absolutely shine in double roles.  Beth's voice soars in her rendition of "The Finer Things" and Jared creates two distinctly fine characters as Brocklehurst, the indifferent and snobbish owner of the girls' school, and as the tortured Mason, the distraught brother of Rochester's mad wife.  Jared's rich tenor is alone well worth the price of admission.

Director Lenne Jacobs Snively did double duty by taking over the role of Mrs. Fairfax, the deaf housekeeper, several days before opening, as many directors must do when an actor cannot go on, and was outstanding as the comic relief singing and playing a most delightful character.

It was wonderful to see young girls in the cast playing children at the school.  Tricia O'Toole as young Jane, and Sara Masterson as Adele, acquitted themselves well.  Kim Mihalik and Robert John Zombar, veteran actors on the Cassidy stage, gave their usual fine performances in dual roles.  Max Cicovskis effectively portrayed Jane's snooty cousin, the spoiled kid you want to bend over your knee.  Space does not permit to list all the other really excellent characterizations.

Bows to the six-member orchestra, hidden back stage left, which played the beautiful score in a "notable" way under the direction of Heidi Herczeg.  Spectacular light effects were designed and Meghan Mohler and Lester Currie was at his best with the functional set design and period costumes.  Joseph Hnat's sound designs created some very believable moments of a horse rearing and a storm brewing.

Also congratulations to Cassidy managing Director Christine Hnat for having the foresight and courage to bring yet another Cleveland area theatrical premier to us. Cassidy Theatre and Paul Gurgol's professional Kalliope Stage in Cleveland Heights are enriching our theatre through their interest in bringing other than the standard works to the Cleveland theatre scene.
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<DIV><STRONG><FONT face=Andy color=#ff0000 size=4>This is a really long review, so I've highlighted the "juicy" parts.  Please come and see us!</FONT></STRONG></DIV>
<DIV><STRONG><FONT face=Andy color=#ff0000 size=4></FONT></STRONG> </DIV>
<DIV><STRONG><FONT face=Andy color=#ff0000 size=4>Fridays, Saturdays at 8:00, Sundays at 3:00 through May 1</FONT></STRONG></DIV>
<DIV><STRONG><FONT face=Andy color=#ff0000 size=4>Cassidy Theatre 6200 Pearl Rd, Parma Heights   </FONT></STRONG></DIV>
<DIV><STRONG><FONT face=Andy color=#ff0000 size=4>Reservations: 440-842-4600</FONT></STRONG></DIV>
<DIV><STRONG><FONT face=Andy size=4></FONT></STRONG> </DIV>
<DIV><STRONG><FONT face=Andy size=4>JANE EYRE'S ROMANTIC TALE OPENS AT CASSIDY by William B. Allman</FONT></STRONG></DIV>
<DIV><STRONG><FONT face=Andy size=4></FONT></STRONG> </DIV>
<DIV><STRONG><FONT face=Andy size=4>Assignment--English 103--read Charlotte Bronte's Victorian novel "Jane Eyre".  An interesting but daunting assignment.</FONT></STRONG></DIV>
<DIV><STRONG><FONT face=Andy size=4></FONT></STRONG> </DIV>
<DIV><STRONG><FONT face=Andy size=4>How many of us did so?  How then does one turn this Gothic novel into a musical?</FONT></STRONG></DIV>
<DIV><STRONG><FONT face=Andy size=4></FONT></STRONG> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Andy size=4><STRONG>Paul Gordon (music and lyrics) and John Caird (book) took the bull by the horns,(really the book by the binding) and brought this wonderful musical to life in an original production in Toronto in 1997 and onto a 2002 Broadway production with five Tony Award nominations shortly thereafter</STRONG>.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><STRONG><FONT face=Andy size=4></FONT></STRONG> </DIV>
<DIV><STRONG><FONT face=Andy size=4>"Jane Eyre" opened at the Cassidy Theatre in Parma Heights on Friday.</FONT></STRONG></DIV>
<DIV><STRONG><FONT face=Andy size=4></FONT></STRONG> </DIV>
<DIV><STRONG><FONT face=Andy size=4>Since Bronte's book is written in the first person with Jane telling her story, the adapters kept the same perspective by creating a physical presence for Jane's memories with a "memory ensemble" speaking as "Jane".  <FONT color=#ff0000>Director Lenne Snively wisely and most effectively carried this idea a bit further by creating two memory ensembles--one made up of young ladies who speak Jane's childhood memories and an adult ensemble who take over Jane's story as she matures. Ensemble members step from her memories to perform scenes from Jane's life giving Bronte's character a voice to be remembered in a whole new way.</FONT></FONT></STRONG></DIV>
<DIV><STRONG><FONT face=Andy size=4><FONT color=#ff0000></FONT></FONT></STRONG> </DIV>
<DIV><STRONG><FONT face=Andy size=4><FONT color=#000000><FONT color=#ff0000>Not only is the story interestingly portrayed but the music is simply glorious with 25 songs in the first act and 18 in the second.</FONT>  Some of Bronte's own dialogue is worked into the lyrics and much of the story is told recitative style with the dialogue sung,  a good feature since some of the dialogue taken directly from the novel was a tad too long.  <FONT color=#ff0000>The character's accents and style of playing gave a nice feeling of English authenticity.  Several beautiful duets between Rochester and Jane are outstanding pieces of music.</FONT></FONT></FONT></STRONG></DIV>
<DIV><STRONG><FONT face=Andy size=4><FONT color=#000000><FONT color=#ff0000></FONT></FONT></FONT></STRONG> </DIV>
<DIV><STRONG><FONT face=Andy size=4><FONT color=#000000>The story is set in England in the 1820s and traces the life of Jane from her youth as a poor relation in a grand household through unhappy experiences in a school for unwanted orphans to her time as a governess at Thornfield Hall in North Yorkshire where she instructs Adele, the young ward of Edward Rochester, the master of the house.  Edward is struck by her simple beauty and proposes marriage but her brief moment of happiness is shattered when it is revealed that Edward's first wife is still living, a mad woman kept secretly sequestered at the Hall, an excellent dramatic turn of events.</FONT></FONT></STRONG></DIV>
<DIV><STRONG><FONT face=Andy size=4><FONT color=#000000></FONT></FONT></STRONG> </DIV>
<DIV><STRONG><FONT face=Andy size=4><FONT color=#000000>If you remember the novel you'll know the end but sufficient to say the tale has a satisfying conclusion.  The story is very much Jane's quest to be loved, not only romantic love, but also a sense of being valued as a person and of belonging.  Published in 1847, the novel is somewhat autobiographical.  Bronte's work became one of the most successful novels of its era both critically and commercially.</FONT></FONT></STRONG></DIV>
<DIV><STRONG><FONT face=Andy size=4><FONT color=#000000></FONT></FONT></STRONG> </DIV>
<DIV><STRONG><FONT face=Andy size=4><FONT color=#000000><FONT color=#ff0000>A brilliantly written musical is only as effective as the cast that performs it and this group of actors is one of the most talented I have had the pleasure of viewing at Cassidy Theatre.  Kristin Netzband as Jane and David Erdei playing Rochester are superb in their roles both acting wise and vocally and form a strong relationship with the audience.  Beth O. Cubbison and Jared Sampson absolutely shine in double roles.  Beth's voice soars in her rendition of "The Finer Things" and Jared creates two distinctly fine characters as Brocklehurst, the indifferent and snobbish owner of the girls' school, and as the tortured Mason, the distraught brother of Rochester's mad wife.  Jared's rich tenor is alone well worth the price of admission.</FONT></FONT></FONT></STRONG></DIV>
<DIV><STRONG><FONT face=Andy size=4><FONT color=#000000><FONT color=#ff0000></FONT></FONT></FONT></STRONG> </DIV>
<DIV><STRONG><FONT face=Andy size=4><FONT color=#000000><FONT color=#ff0000>Director Lenne Jacobs Snively did double duty by taking over the role of Mrs. Fairfax, the deaf housekeeper, several days before opening, as many directors must do when an actor cannot go on, and was outstanding as the comic relief singing and playing a most delightful character.</FONT></FONT></FONT></STRONG></DIV>
<DIV><STRONG><FONT face=Andy color=#ff0000 size=4></FONT></STRONG> </DIV>
<DIV><STRONG><FONT face=Andy color=#ff0000 size=4>It was wonderful to see young girls in the cast playing children at the school.  Tricia O'Toole as young Jane, and Sara Masterson as Adele, acquitted themselves well.  Kim Mihalik and Robert John Zombar, veteran actors on the Cassidy stage, gave their usual fine performances in dual roles.  Max Cicovskis effectively portrayed Jane's snooty cousin, the spoiled kid you want to bend over your knee.  Space does not permit to list all the other really excellent characterizations.</FONT></STRONG></DIV>
<DIV><STRONG><FONT face=Andy color=#ff0000 size=4></FONT></STRONG> </DIV>
<DIV><STRONG><FONT face=Andy color=#ff0000 size=4>Bows to the six-member orchestra, hidden back stage left, which played the beautiful score in a "notable" way under the direction of Heidi Herczeg.  Spectacular light effects were designed and Meghan Mohler and Lester Currie was at his best with the functional set design and period costumes.  Joseph Hnat's sound designs created some very believable moments of a horse rearing and a storm brewing.</FONT></STRONG></DIV>
<DIV><STRONG><FONT face=Andy color=#ff0000 size=4></FONT></STRONG> </DIV>
<DIV><STRONG><FONT face=Andy color=#ff0000 size=4>Also congratulations to Cassidy managing Director Christine Hnat for having the foresight and courage to bring yet another Cleveland area theatrical premier to us. <FONT color=#000000>Cassidy Theatre and Paul Gurgol's professional Kalliope Stage in Cleveland Heights are enriching our theatre through their interest in bringing other than the standard works to the Cleveland theatre scene.</FONT></FONT></STRONG></DIV>
<DIV><STRONG><FONT face=Andy size=4><FONT color=#000000><FONT color=#ff0000></FONT></FONT></FONT></STRONG> </DIV>
<DIV><STRONG><FONT face=Andy size=4><FONT color=#000000><FONT color=#ff0000></FONT> </DIV>
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<DIV><STRONG><FONT face=Andy color=#ff0000 size=4></FONT></STRONG> </DIV>
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