Jane Eyre

[DefyingGravity2]

Posted: 1/11/04 at 2:25pm

HEy, i don't know much about the show...i know the story. I'd love to know opinions of the Music. I'm curioius b/c i'm singing "the finer things" and i'm just curious about the characters, music, etc...

thanks!

[iflitifloat]

Posted: 1/11/04 at 2:49pm

I saw the show twice and loved it. It was dark, a little slow-paced, but beautiful. I particularly liked the sets. A lot of moveable screens and projections were used to create the mood. I understand why it wasn't everyone's cup of tea, but I still play my CD all the time. The show had a bit of a cult following, if I remember correctly, and I think they called themselves "Eyre Heads". Marla Shaffel, who played Jane, was incredible, carried the show on her shoulders, and IMO, was robbed when the Tony went to Christine Ebersole for 42nd Street.

[broadwayguy2]

Posted: 1/11/04 at 2:57pm

I love the Jane Eyre score. I was never a fan of Ebersole.

[bob8rich]

Posted: 1/11/04 at 4:17pm

I really enjoyed Jane Eyre - great sets, two superb performances from Marla Schaffel and James Barbour and a fine score. "The Finer Things", sung by Blanche, is a nice number with a beautiful, flowing melody. In addition there are some other outstanding songs. I particularly love "Brave Enough For Love", "Farewell, Good Angel", "Sirens", "Secret Soul" and "As Good As You".

I was shocked when I heard that this show closed as early as it did.

Updated On: 1/11/04 at 04:17 PM

[Mister Matt]

Posted: 1/11/04 at 4:26pm

Jane Eyre was my favorite show that season. I love the score. Reminiscent of The Secret Garden. The set and lighting design was innovative and amazing. The show certainly deserved a longer run and I agree that Marla deserved the Tony that year. The show also deserved Tonys for scenic design, lighting design and score. I really miss it. I would love to see it again.

[Benzy92]

Posted: 1/11/04 at 5:01pm

Jane Eyre was amazing. Marla Schaffel was completely robbed of the tony.. dont get me started on that one!

[gherbert]

Posted: 1/11/04 at 7:31pm

The score to Jane Eyre is beutiful and haunting, especially "Sirens." "The Finer Things" is a great song, really describes Blanche Ingram and what she stands for. And indeed, Marla was ROBBED of a Tony. My jaw hit the floor, bounced back up, and then hit the ground again when she didn't win and it took many times of replaying my tape I recorded of them while I was watching to see that she didn't win. Her vocal work is superb and James Barbour was perfect, a bruting and troubled individual, yet at the same times gentle and misunderstood.

[cmleidi]

Posted: 1/11/04 at 7:37pm

How was Ebersole even nominated in the lead actress category? If I recall correctly, the character disappears from the second act except for one scene.

[gherbert]

Posted: 1/11/04 at 7:58pm

That's a good question. A better question: why was Kate Levering, who was playing Peggy Sawyer in Peggy Sawyer's story get nominted in the featured category. And answer: Christine Ebersole's performance was wonderful and she is a star and had star billing, therefore she was nominated a leading. Another reason, this was the year The Producers took everything and the only category where they really had nothing to submit was the leading actress category. Ms. Ebersole's performance was very strong and she had a very good chance of winning against Marla Schaffel, which she subsequently did. Ms. Levering didn't have a rat's chance at toppling Marla Schaffel. She gave a good performance, but the perky ingenue of 42nd Street couldn't compare to the powerful star performance of Marla Schaffel. Christine Ebersole had a certain authority on stage in the production even if she was a supporting character. So, naturally, she got put in the leading category and won. Was her performance bad? Not in the least. Was it award worthy? Yes, indeed. Should she have beat Marla Schaffel? No. No, she shouldn't have.

[Mr Roxy]

Posted: 1/11/04 at 7:59pm

Ditto to Benzy . It was almost as brazen a robbery as not even nominating Herman' Mack & Mabel score

[cmleidi]

Posted: 1/11/04 at 8:18pm

Thanks gherbert for the explanation. I find star billing (or lack of)deciding the Tony category ridiculous. The performer should be slotted in the category based upon the actual performance. There was no way Ebersole belonged in the lead actress category.

I don't take the Tonys as an indicator of quality, but would it kill them to put performances in the proper categories?

[gherbert]

Posted: 1/11/04 at 9:03pm

If you think the inclusion of Christine Ebersole in the leading character is a big deal, I feel it's a minor issue compared to Tom Bosley and Tammy Grimes being put in the featured categories for the title characters of Fiorello! and The Unsinkable Molly Brown (although it is nice that they both won for those shows).

[Kitzarina]

Posted: 1/12/04 at 1:39pm

I don't know much about the Broadway version (mostly because I refuse to listen to how they changed the show), but I've been following Jane Eyre since it's world premiere in 1995 in my hometown. This show has some of the most gorgeous music you will ever hear, but if you want a great recording your best bet is the 1998 Toronto cast. Marla and Anthony are both at the top of their games, making it a very worthwhile addition to your collection. My personal favorite song is "Farewell Good Angel," mostly because of Anthony Crivello.

[Mister Matt]

Posted: 1/12/04 at 1:52pm

Good luck finding the Toronto cast recording. It's been out of print for years.

[King Stevos]

Posted: 1/12/04 at 4:02pm

I adore the music. Never heard the Toronto cast recording, would be nice.

STEVOS

[Elphaba]

Posted: 1/13/04 at 12:23am

anything can be found at Ebay, or Amazon.com
most likely from a 2nd source, used.......
If I could find a copy of 'Napoleon', that horrid Canadian musical that was such a flop.........you should have no problem finding a copy of the Toronto production of Jane......

[Mister Matt]

Posted: 1/13/04 at 1:27pm

I found the Napolean recording much more easily than the Toronto Jane Eyre. Napolean can still be found occasionally at the Footlight or Dress Circle sights. The last time I saw Toronto Jane Eyre was a CD-R at Footlight for some outrageous price.

[Kitzarina]

Posted: 1/13/04 at 4:44pm

That's why it's nice to have connections :) Got a copy of the CD years ago before it came out. I'm sad to hear that it's out of print now--truly was a phenomenal recording

[MegGiry]

Posted: 1/18/04 at 3:02pm

I love that musical, too. Marla Schaffel is wonderful and amazingly adorable. Is she nice in real life? Where do you find digital sheet music for that musical?

-----------------------------------------------------------------

"Sad to be all alone in the world!" Mrs. Meers, Thoroughly Modern Millie