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| Art Anderson and Jessica Spencer in Jane Eyre at Taproot Theatre (photo by Erik Stuhaug) |
Jane Eyre the Musical
Starring Jessica Spencer, Art Anderson
Through August 16, 2014
The rather unfortunate musical, Jane Eyre, is being presented by Taproot Theatre, currently. It is
a rare misfire for the company, though I can understand reasons why this
company would really like the content (in a moment). An able cast still cannot
succeed in making this musical more than palatable, unless your particular
enjoyments include dour, unpleasant and almost hopeless circumstances.
If you know the Charlotte Bronte book, the basic story is
included, though it experiences more like the greatest moments hits than an
adaptation that works to include the feeling and scope of the novel. This is
not inventive writing. In fact, it misses from the very beginning scene.
Jane comes out as an adult to begin telling us about her
very unfortunate and difficult childhood. Here is a major opportunity to show
us that she ultimately triumphs in the end (this should not be a spoiler). Here
a song could be that says something
like, “I thought it was hopeless, I had no reason to believe that a good life
lay before me, yet here I am today to tell you that, but for the grace of God,
I am happy and …” etc. Instead, the unidentified-aged Jane immediately plunges
us into her childhood starting with a rousing song of, “Beat the liar out of
that nine year old.”