| Titles | Artists | Composers | Broadway | Opera | Home |
Jane Eyre
Original Broadway Cast
Starring Marla Schaffel and James Barbour
Music and Lyrics by Paul Gordon
Book by John Caird
25 Tracks
Visit Stacy's wonderful Jane Eyre page for a Synopsis of both the Toronto and Broadway versions of the show, plus other great stuff.
This is one of the most beautiful shows ever written; the music and lyrics are breathtaking. The show remains as faithful to the original novel as possible within the time frame of a musical. A few significant changes and cuts are made - the most noticeable being the omission of the Morton segment of story - but they are done so well that the story remains complete, and captures the spirit and intention of the novel if not all the details.
The music, as I said, is positively breathtaking. There is no other word for it. Every note of the show counts. While the show is not sung all the way through, still much of the action and some of the dialogue is expressed in song. Many of the lyrics come straight from the pages of the novel, and blend seamlessly with Gordon's own words to form a perfect whole.
Marla Schaffel, as Jane, is simply astounding. She expresses plainly the strong, passionate, and altogether human nature of the character. James Barbour, as the brooding, enigmatic Mr. Rochester, is equally wonderful. He brings out the character's bitterness and sarcasm while allowing a glimpse of the kinder, better man that lies beneath the rough exterior. The voices of these two performers mix beautifully - duets such as "Sirens" and "Secret Soul" are a delight to listen to over and over again.
Jane Eyre also boasts a spectacular supporting cast. Mary Stout, as the kind if muddled housekeeper Mrs. Fairfax, provides an endearing comic touch in her two humorous songs, "Perfectly Nice" and "Slip of a Girl." How she kept the rapid-fire, almost Seuss-esque lyrics straight, I don't know. Jayne Paterson's performance as Helen Burns is fantastic - "Forgiveness" is both beautiful and inspiring. Stephen Buntrock's lovely voice lends an earnest, idealistic air to the character of St. John Rivers; it renders him more likeable than Bronte's original, which in many cases seems a change for the better. Bonnie Gleicher (Young Jane), Don Richard (Mr. Brocklehurst), Bill Nolte (Richard Mason), and Marguerite McIntyre (Bertha Mason) all give wonderful performances, as does the rest of the ensemble.
I would be hard put to choose a favorite song; the musical hangs together so well that I tend to think of it as a whole piece, rather than a series of separate numbers.
This CD is well worth buying. I bought it almost on a whim, and have been thankful I did so ever since. Run out and get yourself a copy - you won't regret it!
Also see my reviews of the Jane Eyre Toronto Cast CD.
