Jane Eyre review, Rosemary Branch Theatre

As thrilling, old-fashioned, romances go, they don't get much better than Jane Eyre. With a cast of six dressed top-to-toe in calico, working a set of just seven wooden chairs, there was a frisson of anxiety. Were we about to witness Charlotte Bronte's epic novel pared to the bone? Far from it. Bryony J Thompson's elegantly faithful adaptation is so true to the story in context and content, it's like simultaneously reading the book and having it come alive in front of you.

Eyre on a shoe string

To recap: romance blossoms for the plain, teenage, orphan, Jane Eyre, when she's hired by the dark, testosteronic, Mr Rochester, to educate his ward, Adele. Cruel, but egalitarian, Rochester is instantly aroused by Jane's clever observations, unflinching honesty, and simple faith. That doesn't mean he isn't going to enjoy hurting her a little, even as he's spooling her in - he is, after all, twenty years her senior, and hiding an explosive secret that triggers the ultimate act of denial. When Jane is horribly humiliated at the altar, we are unsure if there ever can be - or should be - a Mills and Boon ending for this unlikely pair. And that's before Mr Rochester is burnt and blinded...

Hannah Maddison's Jane is pitched perfectly. She is a charming mix of warm heart and indomitable will, of containment and of constancy, of sharp words and soft looks. Even when you know the story well, there are moments of terror and sadness, and scenes that elicit happy sighs because we've all been there in our heads and our hearts. Jane's narrative is shared between three actors, and this works well, providing pace and tone.

In conclusion: This is a stylish, gentle, faithful, rendition of Jane Eyre. As well as a lovely central performance, Rob Pomfret is a romantically cruel Rochester. The youthful ensemble - Joss Wyre, Phillip Honeywell, Lily Beck and Helen Keely  -provide beautifully nuanced renditions of the smaller characters. It's on tour, and well worth a ticket.

References:
Jane Eyre tickets and tour details

Rosemary Branch Theatre, 2 Shepperton Road, Islington, London N1 3DT