I've adapted Jane Eyre for theatre and have a couple of questions for you.
Hello All,
I have written an adaptation that is truly an adaptation; it's faithful to the story and spirit of the book, but I've focused on the community of women and the way they reflect and project Jane's feelings. I'm including my statement of purpose at the end of my questions in case you want to see more specifically what I'm talking about. I have a couple of questions that you, as lovers of the book, might answer.
So without further adieu:
One of my biggest hurdles is the Moor House section with St. John. It is such an essential obstacle for Jane to finally leave. I'm far more interested in linking her behavior to her character rather than contextualizing the reason for her staying in the time period and the few choices women had. She knows that she's extreme, either seeking approval or going for rebellion, so her needing for St. John's approval is understandable. It's just that he's so dislikable! Does anyone have thoughts on that?
I've set up the play in a way that makes it clear that Rochester wishes he knew how Jane feels about him and that his dressing as the gypsy is about infiltrating the community of women. The book makes it fairly clear that Jane doesn't know Rochester is the gypsy until fairly late in their conversation. What do you think it would do if we thought that Jane knows early on? Also, what do you make of the gypsy scene.
Thank you so much. I'm working on finding resources on some initial workshopping of the play, which will definitely be a developing process.
Jenny
Here is my statement of purpose:
My adaptation of Jane Eyre focuses on Jane’s central relationships with Bertha and the other women who populate the worlds Jane moves in. The community of women project her anger, sense of injustice, and desire for selfhood while also playing foils to those feelings. While Jane rages at Aunt Reed, the girls of Lowood School destroy their classroom and Bertha shreds her guitar alone in her prison attic, all expressing fury with their individual lives. Using bold movement and dance, humor and occasional commentary from Charlotte Bronte, this adaptation invites an audience to see Jane both as exceptional and themselves