By Marilyn Jozwik
Lake Country Playhouse turns into the misty moors of England and the mysterious mansion of Thornfield for its summer production of “Jane Eyre The Musical,” with music and lyrics by Paul Gordon and book by John Caird.
As does Charlotte Bronte’s somewhat autobiographical 1847 novel “Jane Eyre,” the musical takes on a somber, sometimes austere tone as it follows the strong-willed heroine who overcame the cruelty of adults as a youngster and followed her own path to find ways to be kind, to love and to be loved. Breanne Brennan directs.
LCP checks all the boxes in this fine production: a stellar cast with wonderful performances and vocals, a quartet of fine musicians, a hard-working set design with back screen visuals that takes audiences to dozens of locations, and spotless lighting and sound. Even the simple movements are well-conceived and precisely executed. This is a well-oiled machine of a production.
A young Jane (Paige Lombardi), left, enjoys a visit with her schoolmate Helen (Gabriella George) as adult Jane (Emily Keiner) reflects on the scene.
The story is well-known, although I overheard more than one patron trying to remember the story from their reading of the novel years ago.
Moving the show along are 41 songs that follow Jane through her life. Early scenes show the orphaned Jane (Emily Keiner) and the abuse of her wicked aunt Mrs. Reed (Olivia Najera) and then her equally harsh days at school. When her aunt leaves her at the school, her wish is that Jane “be made humble and kept useful.” At school, Jane befriends her sweet classmate Helen (Gabriella George), who teaches her forgiveness.
Jane (Emily Keiner), suitcase in hand, prepares to leave Lowood School and strike out on her own.
Eight years later as a young adult, Jane leaves the school after being told she’d “be mad to leave” as she has no money, no talent, no beauty and no class. Nonetheless, she finds a job as a governess to Adele (Reagan Renner), the ward of the enigmatic Edward Rochester (Ezekiel N. Drews), at Thornfield Hall. In a sort of Maria and Captain von Trapp relationship in “The Sound of Music,” Jane grows fond of her enigmatic master. Yet, there are strange occurrences and sounds in the hall that soon reveal some startling truths, turning Jane’s world upside-down.
Unlike many musicals, this is a quiet show. Its tone is subdued and its appearance controlled. Without the big, rousing production numbers, it fits nicely on the intimate LCP stage. It has a marvelous period look, thanks to costume designer Sarah Jo Martens. Simple props and backdrops also help set the numerous locations nicely, while Sue Gedemer directs the lovely, sometimes haunting melodies throughout. I especially enjoyed April Fehrman’s playful clarinet in “The Gypsy,” the charming palm-reading scene. I also loved all the full, lush harmonies the chorus provided in numbers like “Sympathies Exist” to open Act 2 and the closing number,”Brave Enough for Love,” and wished there would have been more such numbers.
But of course, we must talk about Jane, wonderfully portrayed by Keiner, who fits the role like a glove. Throughout the show, we see her resolve to not let the world around her knock her down or set boundaries. As Jane says in Chapter 23 of the novel, "I am no bird; and no net ensnares me: I am a free human being with an independent will." Keiner truly embodies that spirt.
As Edward Rochester, Drews displays a commanding presence, fine vocals and a wide range of emotions, from his fiery tirades to his tender moments with Jane.
I really enjoyed Erin Sura’s light-hearted portrayal of Mrs. Fairfax, the housekeeper at Thornfield Hall, while Regan Renner stole the show with her mischievous Adele character, whose overacting in “Adele’s Melodrama” brought peals of laughter from the audience.
Aly Olson-Turek displayed a marvelous, soaring soprano voice and flirtatious character as Blanche Ingram, Rochester’s wannabe wife. Her “Finer Things” was a thing of beauty.
Thom Cauley choreographed some wonderful scenes on this small stage. I was impressed by the school girls’ sharp, precise movements, dramatizing how their lives were so regimented.
Dialect coach Becca Richards helped place characters in their British settings with effective accents, including a well-done Scottish accent by Rebecca Ruiz as Grace Poole.
The many small, memorable moments in the musicial show an acute attention to detail and the dedication of each cast and crew member to present an outstanding production.
If you go:
Who: Lake Country Playhouse
What: “Jane Eyre The Musical”
When: Through July 21
Where: 221 E. Capitol Drive, Hartland
Info/Tickets: LakeCountryPlayhouseWI.org