Jane Eyre
Writer: Adaptation by Ali Bendall
Director: Ali Bendall
Genesian Theatre
October 5 – November 10, 2024
There is a certain poignance, laced with nostalgia, in this, the Genesian’s last production at its charming Kent Street home, before its relocation to Rozelle. Director Ali Bendall’s excellent adaptation of Charlotte Bronte’s passionate novel about a young orphan’s quest to survive and find love still resonates with modern audiences (if the lists of favourite reads are to be believed), nearly two hundred years after it was written. The play retains all the arresting gothic elements and narrative power of the original novel, and its marvellous cast bring this story to life in a most heart-warming and satisfactory way.
The play closely follows the novel’s narrative: having survived an unhappy childhood, Jane acquires enough education to become a teacher at the orphanage school, but she is young and life beckons. She becomes governess to Adele, the ward of Edward Rochester, the owner of an estate called Thornfield. Jane’s passionate nature is tempered by her great integrity and she comes to care for the abrupt, deeply reserved Rochester and he, likewise, for her. But Thornfield is a place with secrets and it is from this that the mystery and gothic drama emanates – strange laughing at night, a figure seen wandering after dark, a ripped wedding veil, the ultimate shock, on her wedding day, of finding that Rochester is still married to his deranged wife. Jane flees Thornfield but a series of tragic events frees Rochester and the lovers are happily reunited.
The excellent cast clearly enjoy the variety of roles they are given to portray, but it’s the lead actors who truly shine and drive the story to its happy conclusion. Kyra Belford-Thomas as Jane and Vincent Andriano as Rochester establish a warm and believable rapport which engages the audience throughout. Kyra Belford-Thomas deftly manages the difficult task of portraying Jane’s strength, resilience and integrity as she negotiates life from a bullied orphan to a young adult assured of her worth. Vincent Andriano does an excellent job of creating a Rochester, at first abrupt and seemingly sunk in a Byronic-style depression, to a warm and likable Rochester as his love for Jane transforms his personality. Together they successfully keep us yearning for their future happiness which they achieve at the play’s end, much to our satisfaction.
The marvellous work of the creative crew must be mentioned: the multi-level set (Tom Fahy and Ali Bendall) is impressively inventive – there are passageways, a trapdoor, and the stained glass and brick of the building are used to evoke a dark Victorian atmosphere. The lighting (Cian Byrne and Ali Bendall) is subdued, adding to the gloom and mystery of Thornfield in particular. The shades of the costuming too (Susan Carveth and Ali Bendall), are a palette of neutrals as befits poor women and give a great sense of Victoriana.
Charlotte Bronte’s novel touched on many themes still relevant today: the status of women, their education, the eternal dilemma of finding a lasting relationship and overcoming the inevitable conflicts that arise within it. Jane’s life skirts a perilous path between disaster caused by poverty and the temptations that would beset a vulnerable girl in that era and may still do today. It is ultimately her personal integrity and education, plus an unexpected financial windfall, which rescue Jane in the end.
An excellent production, Jane Eyre is a fitting finale as the Genesian farewells its old home and there may be a few tears on closing night. If you’d like to pay your respects to this well-loved Sydney theatre before it relocates, this last Kent Street show will not disappoint!
