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La Jolla Playhouse, San Diego
Jane Eyre
American Premiere Production
August 14, 1999
Review by Rodney Anderson
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On Saturday, I met up with some friends at the La Jolla Playhouse to see Jane Eyre. Looking through the program, the
musical numbers where not listed in the actual program but on a leaflet included in the program. This leads me to believe that
they are still cutting the show down as it runs about 2 hours and 55 minutes. I have never read the novel so I didn't know quite
what to expect. The story begins as Jane Eyre's aunt who hates her places her in an all girls' school. She lives there until she is
an adult. She moves on to a position as the governess of the ward of a certain Mr. Rochester. She falls in love with him but her
hopes of marrying him are dashed when she finds out that he has a secret. She revisits her hated but dying aunt, becomes
chummy with the aunt's caretaker and eventually returns to Mr. Rochester.
Playing Jane is Marla Schaffel who has starred on Broadway in Titanic and Les Mis and she is magnificent. James Barbour
plays Edward Rochester. I enjoyed him but at times the seemed a bit too intense. Mary Stout who plays the housekeeper, Mrs.
Fairfax and Tiffany Scarritt who play the young Jane were wonderful in their roles. Also Elizabeth Degrazia playing Edward's
intended bride Blanche had a lovely soprano voice.
The first impression I had was that John Napier had to have designed the set. I was right. I can spot one of his sets anywhere.
The costumes were also quite good. John Caird and Scott Schwartz beautifully direct the show. There were a couple of scene
changes that need to be rethought out, a couple of odd scenes that could be cut as well a couple of songs but for the most part,
the show flows beautifully. It is for the most part sung through and while the score is lovely, on first listen, there aren't any
standout songs. Maybe listening to it a few more times, I will really love the score. On the whole, go see this show. It is very
good and will be even better when they tighten it up. Do go see it.
-------Rodney Anderson
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