Have you ever sat in a literature class and wished you could watch the assigned text as a movie instead of reading it? We have all been there. Sure, the novel is exciting, but with your sleep-deprived eyes and several hours of homework piling up, you just want to watch the book.
One of the most popular, and longest, British novels is Jane Eyre by Charlotte Brontë. You probably don’t have enough time to read it, but you want to. It’s a classic, it’s a romance, and it’s a creepy, gothic tale.
Fortunately, Covenant College Theatre has a passion for translating several hundred page novels into stage plays! “Jane Eyre” will be performing in Sanderson Auditorium on November 14-15 at 7:30 p.m. with a matinee performance on November 16 at 2:30 p.m. In partnership with Luisa Monteiro-Oliveira and Jessica Seabolt in their Senior Capstones, Covenant Theatre sought to find a script that did the British novel justice.
Anya Klumpenhower, who adapted the novel “Frankenstein” to a stage performance last fall, eagerly accepted the challenge of preserving the timelessness of “Jane Eyre” on stage.
"My favorite element of the novel is the intimacy Jane shares with the reader, what with us having access to her many internal monologues," says star Monteiro-Oliveira, "yet now I've somehow got to translate everything learned from Jane's thoughts into my voice and body, and what an honor that is to take on!"
Against popular belief, Jane Eyre is not a Jane Austin novel. It is not a lovey-dovey romance with witty social critique on the side. Director Camille Hallstrom notes, “Jane Eyre is primarily a creepy, gothic novel; it has a sense of a ghost story. It also has conspicuous themes of how Christians act and behave.” Throughout the story, Jane confronts immensely difficult decisions between selfish behaviors and morally correct actions. However, the novel balances the elements of religion, gothic and romance to create this blend of a fascinating story.
Individuals who hope to see this book brought to life will experience chilling mansions, burning fires and spiritual ghosts. This perfect fall-weather show will thrill you with the spookiness of the season and give a little cozy likeness of romance. Tickets sell out fast, so head to covenant.edu/theatre to get yours now!
“Jane Eyre” will be performed on November 14-15 at 7:30 p.m. with a matinee performance on November 16 at 2:30 p.m. at Covenant College’s Sanderson Auditorium. On November 14, stay for the Talk Back Panel featuring Dr. Heather Hess and Dr. Jeff Dryden. To purchase tickets, go to covenant.edu/theatre. Tickets are $10 for general admission, and $7 dollars for students, staff and seniors.