Broadway Gems, pt. 2: Jane Eyre

The next show in this series is the musical adaptation of Charlotte Bronte's Jane Eyre. It opened at the Brooks Atkinson Theatre on December 10, 2000, quickly gaining a loyal fan base and earning a 2001 Tony nomination for Best Musical. Unfortunately this success wasn't enough to keep the show running, and it closed on June 10, 2001--seven days after the Tonys.

In the story, a young and unattractive governess arrives at the mysterious Thornfield Hall, where she meets the troubled Mr. Rochester with a dark secret. When the secret is finally revealed, she's forced to make the hardest decision she's ever faced. A touch of Gothic horror is brought to a somewhat nontraditional love story, exploring themes of religion, social class-based oppression, and the cost of personal integrity.

Amazon sells the CD, featuring Marla Schaffel as Jane and James Barbour as Mr. Rochester. YouTube unfortunately doesn't have many songs from the show, but here are the (good) ones I could find.

As Good As You (lyrics): Rochester explains the presence of 10-year-old Adelle to Jane. This is from the pre-Broadway tour with Marla Schaffel and Anthony Crivello; I prefer Barbour's more subtle interpretation of the character, which can be heard on the CD.


Sirens (lyrics): Act One finale. The secrets of Rochester's past are threatened to be exposed as he struggles with his feelings for Jane. This was taken from the 2001 Tony Awards. (Note: yes, the third voice at the end is intentional.)


Painting Her Portrait (lyrics): Jane laments her low status and plain features in comparison to her beautiful rival for Mr. Rochester's affection, Blanche Ingram.


If it's possible, to really get a feel for the show you should try to find the following songs, or just get the CD:

Forgiveness
The Graveyard/Sweet Liberty
The Proposal
Farewell Good Angel
The Voice Across the Moors

Broadway Gems, pt. 1: The Secret Garden

I've been reminiscing about Broadway musicals that have come and gone, shows that deserved more credit than they ever received. Nearly everyone has heard at least one rendition of "I Dreamed A Dream" from Les Miserables and can sing along to Phantom of the Opera's "All I Ask Of You", but there are many good shows with solid numbers that will rarely ever be seen or heard from again. For my next few posts, I'll give tribute to these "Broadway Gems". First up: The Secret Garden.

The Secret Garden opened at the St. James Theatre in April 1991 and ran for a little over a year. Winner of the 1991 Tony Award for Best Musical, it adapts the classic story by Frances Hodgson Burnett for the stage. 10-year-old Mary Lennox is sent to live with a hunchbacked uncle she's never met in England after losing her parents to a cholera outbreak at a British colony. The uncle has troubles of his own, lost in memories and unable to cope with the death of his wife, Lily--Mary's aunt. The isolation and bitterness drive Mary to search out the secrets of the mansion, and find refuge in the garden beyond.

Obviously I suggest getting the CD. With the miracle of YouTube (and thanks to various productions by different regional theatres), I'm able to present a few of the highlights from this somewhat obscure musical.

House Upon the Hill (lyrics): Mary arrives at the mansion, escorted by the dour housekeeper.


I Heard Someone Crying (lyrics): A mysterious crying shakes the household. (Note: bad lighting. The adult female voice is Lily's ghost.)


Girl In The Valley (lyrics): Archibald (Mary's uncle) remembers dancing with Lily.


Winter's On The Wing (lyrics): Dickon, the enigmatic brother of Mary's chambermaid (and something akin to a nature sprite) sings of the start of Spring.


Lily's Eyes (lyrics): Archibald and his brother, Neville (the "villain" as it were) reminisce about Lily. This song has actually become a rather famous male duet.


Quartet (lyrics): The other famous song from the show. Archibald relays a dream he had to Neville, who plots to send Mary away to boarding school, while the ghosts of Lily and Rose (Mary's mother) relive an argument prior to Lily's marriage. (Note: it cuts off abruptly at the end, but that is the whole song.)