At Richmond Theatre last night I witnessed the most accomplished, innovative and touching performance of Jane Eyre. I was truly moved by it and inspired to see plain, timid Jane transformed into a tortured, feisty woman with a powerful passion for Mr Rochester.
Tim Delap as Mr Rochester was all that you could want him to be. Tall, bearded, commanding, sensitive, conflicted, sexy, passionate and magnificent. Nadia Clifford, as Jane, transitioned from frightened child, to meek governess, to passionate woman, to defeated lover and ultimately to a mature woman in love. The bond between them crackled with emotion and energy. Bronte’s gentle love story was retold skilfully as a thrilling grand passion.
Another standout performance was that of Melanie Marshall as the mad wife Bertha Mason. Her haunting singing punctuated the entire show and I will never forget her incredible performances of “Mad about the boy” and Gnarls Barkley’s “Crazy”. The latter was mesmerising. Bertha is, quite simply, gifted. Other music was provided by the on-stage band and evoked the story’s old England heritage.
The accents (Northern, Irish and Scottish) were perfect and the effects – storms, sunshine, strong breezes – were communicated in the most wondrous way blending technology and human art.
The set is a series of wooden platforms, ladders and steel frames – and there are occasions where there is real fire to ignite the scenes. But the players contribute a huge sense of place by holding and using props at the right moments. The portrayal of Jane’s thoughts in turmoil was theatrical magic. The gender-swapping cast was bold. But the taut tension was eased regularly by the comic portrayal of Pilot the dog by Paul Mundell. And Hannah Bristow conveyed the childish joy of young Adele with aplomb.
It was sublime. Albeit a little long. The first half – an hour and three quarters charting Jane’s early years and “unjust” treatment suffered at home and school just started to feel like it was dragging when Mr Rochester appeared and the pace and dynamics shifted. A turning point in her life and in the play.
It is hard to imagine an improvement on such a classic and much-loved story as Jane Eyre, but the Bristol Old Vic team managed the impossible. All credit to the cast who improvised the production – it was a masterpiece in observation, interpretation and dramatisation.
They richly deserved the unanimous standing ovation. It was simply beautiful to watch. Even my (male) companion declared it excellent and “pure theatre”. I was utterly transfixed and I urge you to go and experience it for yourself at the earliest opportunity.
