#Marla Schaffel

[aleksakonstanta]

my mustard-seed

[eyreguide]

Review Jane Eyre the Musical - Theatre Raleigh Production

Earlier this year, Theatre Raleigh in North Carolina premiered the updated production of Jane Eyre the Musical by Paul Gordon and John Caird. Jane Eyre the Musical had its Broadway run back in 2000, and it is still my favorite musical version of Jane Eyre. Caird and Gordon brought Jane's story to life in an incredible way - capturing the lyricism of the novel in a way that felt true to the book, while also bringing all the emotion of the story in the beautiful melodies. I loved the Broadway cast of Marla Schaffel and James Barbour in their roles as Jane and Rochester, and still listen to the original cast recording on a regular basis.

Recently, Caird and Gordon decided to rework the musical into a "chamber piece". With a simpler orchestral accompaniment, slimmed down cast (different roles were covered by multiple people), and some changes to the lyrics and flow of the musical. I was excited to see this new version, and although I couldn't make it to North Carolina to see the show (and I really tried to make it happen, but life events got in the way), I was able to watch it through the special livestream event Theatre Raleigh held this past weekend. I'm happy to share my thoughts on it here!

Julie Benko stars as Jane Eyre in this production, and she is almost always on stage - a difficult feat for quite a lengthy production, but she was wonderful! In the early part of Jane's story, older Jane would wander around young Jane as she watched over her and relive the memories of her youth. The poignancy of older Jane and younger Jane together is such a highlight of this production. It gives so much emotional depth to Jane's story. Especially so when towards the end, Jane comes to see Mrs. Reed on her deathbed, and young Jane just stands off to the side - a specter that Mrs. Reed sometimes looks at, as she is reminded of how she treated Jane as a child. Ada Manie played young Jane as well as Adele, and her performance was also fantastic - I believed her as both characters.

Matt Bogart played Mr. Rochester, and I also found his performance to be magnificent. He played the mercurial nature of Rochester perfectly, and while the romance does proceed very quickly, I am so familiar with the duets in the show (Sirens and Secret Soul) that their romantic interest in each other feels perfectly valid when illustrated by song. I did watch this with my husband who had never seen this musical version (although he has read the book), and he felt that the rushed romance was the only real disappointment he had in this version.

Some of the lyric changes were surprising to me. I only got to watch this once, so perhaps they would make better sense if I watched it a second time, but a lot of it seemed unnecessary. The original was already so good. They did cut a few songs as well - Mrs. Fairfax's "Perfectly Nice", Blanche Ingrams's "The Finer Things", and Jane's later song "Rain" (cuts I didn't mind) and Mr. Rochester's "Farewell Good Angel" which was one I kind of missed, but I understand that it really focuses on Jane leaving rather than Rochester's reaction.

I still hope to see this version in person someday - whenever there is a new production of it in the U.S. I find it such a moving portrait of the novel, capturing the passion and the sentiment, and making it all feel real. ... In a heightened sort of way of course. I'm so glad that they released a filmed version of this, and I hope this production might be available to buy someday!

Here is the Theatre Raleigh playbill to see the full cast! https://theatreraleigh.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/Jane-Eyre-Playbill.pdf

[kilesplaysthings]

Reading through the angst-ridden route that is Licht’s route (actually quite enjoying it, by the way. Can’t wait to see how he falls in love and learns how to forgive himself). And my goodness, I keep thinking of the song ‘Sirens’ from the Jane Eyre musical.

Super good musical, by the way. It’s passionate, dark and intense. I feel like this song especially could fit Licht’s inner turmoil at the fact that he’s starting to open his heart to another. Also Emma’s thoughts about wanting to help him:

Damn the passion, damn the skies

Damn the light that's in her eyes

I know too well where it has led before.

She saves me but I can't be saved

Frees me but I'm still enslaved

Now I battle what I most adore.

Oh, let me sail away

And make this vow

That what my heart wants I will not allow.

For as sirens call the sailors

She calls me now.

[cartrunkent]

Favorite Musicals 3: Jane Eyre

Jane Eyre- This one will be short. I list this 3 because I simply love it. I have never seen it. I have never done it. I can’t even get one of my companies to order me a perusal script so I can read it… but listening to it brings me joy and still makes me emotional.

Image: The Broadway Playbill. Not mine.

I saw the song Sirens on the Tony Awards. At that point the show had already announced it was closing. It was only open (if memory serves,) because Alanis Morissette bought over $150,000 dollars in tickets and gave them to charities to keep the show going.

THANK GOODNESS there was a cast recording. I got it as soon as I could, and I’ve never looked back. Sirens remains my favorite song from the show, but there are so many others that bring me joy. I don't skip any. ...which is saying something.

I was happy when looking for pics that it seems the show does have a life in stock and community theater. I could find very few good pictures from the Broadway run... but here's a nice shot from another production...

I am continually shocked that many of my most ardent musical theater fan friends do not even know about this show and haven’t heard it. I recommend it to every one of them, and so far too few have taken the bait. I’ve even provided cd copies (back when that was a thing,) to a few people only to learn it was never listened to.

The music is beautiful. The performances I’ve come to hear are haunting and heartfelt. Marla Schaffel and James Barbour are treat to the ears.

It is on my list to direct, even though I haven’t read it. It’s a challenge because there are still more featured male roles than female roles. The inclusion of the orphans early in the show and then they disappear doesn’t help me because there’s no space I work in where a chunk of kids in only one act is an advisable idea… but if an opportunity arises, I’ll do everything in my power to introduce this to more people.

No, I’ve never read the book it’s based on. Yes, I really should.

Favorite Song: Sirens.

Favorite #4: Jekyll and Hyde

Favorite #3: Jane Eyre

Favorite #2: A Gentlemen's Guide to Love and Murder

Favorite #1: Assassins

[musicalsorwhatever]

“Sirens (Reprise)” is the thirty-fourth song in the 2000 musical Jane Eyre. The show featured music and lyrics by Paul Gordon, and a book by John Caird based on the 1847 Charlotte Brontë novel: Jane Eyre. It was nominated for five Tony Awards, including Best Musical. This song is performed by James Stacy Barbour as Edward Fairfax Rochester, and Marla Schaffel, who won a Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Actress in a Musical for her performance as the titular Jane.

[camelliabi]

Marla Schaffel and Anthony Crivello during the original Toronto production of Jane Eyre the Musical.

[locke-writes]

they sprout among the peonies - Michael Anania

Fruit Salad - Tom Cardy

The Violet Hour - Sea Wolf

Simple Little Things - Audra McDonald

3 Small Words - Josie and the Pussycats

The Proposal - Marla Schaffel & James Barbour

Love, Me Normally - Will Wood

If It Makes You Happy - Michael Cera Palin

Come Along - Cosmo Sheldrake

when i’m at therapy - The Blue Dinosaur

Tardigrade Song - Cosmo Sheldrake

Boyfriend - Dove Cameron

Jigsaw - Conan Gray

Spy Again - Curt Mega

Celebrate the Reckless - MAGIC GIANT

The Railroad - Goodnight, Texas

Me Myself & I - 5 Seconds of Summer

Fever Dreams - Dio

History - BONNIE PARKER

Hey Love - The Daughters of Eve

Greek God - Conan Gray

Cubs in Five - The Mountain Goats

It’s Cool - First in Flight

Welcome to the Family - Avenged Sevenfold

Kiss Me - Sixpence None the Richer

What’s Up? - 4 Non Blondes

There She Goes - The La’s

There She Goes - Sixpence None the Richer

I Don’t Want to Wait - Paula Cole

She’s So High - Tai Bachman

Tom’s Diner - Suzanne Vega & DNA

Mr Jones - Counting Crows

Crash Into Me - Dave Matthews Band

Collide - Howie Day

Lovefool - The Cardigans

Barely Breathing - Duncan Sheik

3AM - Matchbox Twenty

I Hate Everything About You - Three Days Grace

Still Ill - The Smiths

Somewhere Out There - Philip Glasser & Betsy Cathcart

My Eyes - Neil Patrick Harris & Felicia Day

The Starry Night - Starry Original Cast

Finale - Anastasia Original Broadway Cast

Keys of Life - Klaus Nomi

A Duo - Philip Glasser & Dom De Louise

It’s DeLovely - Ella Fitzgerald

Kids In America - The Muffs

867-5309/Jenny - Tommy Tutone

Fake - Oxford Remedy

Flowers Never Bend After the Rainfall - Simon & Garfunkel

You’re Dead - Norma Tanega

Nevermind - Deaf Havana

The Bad Thing - The Mysterines

If I Fail You - Dylan Saunders

Vampire Money - My Chemical Romance

Poisoning Pigeons in the Park - Tom Lehrer

Viva Las Vengeance - Panic! At the Disco

Holidays in the Sun - Sex Pistols

Let It Out - The Guy Who Didn’t Like Musicals Cast

Inner White Girl - A Strange Loop Cast

I Love You (As Much As Someone Like Me Could Love Anyone) - Galavant Cast

Pretend to Be Nice - Josie and the Pussycats

Teenage Demon Baby - Foxy Shazam

Flightless Bird, American Mouth - Iron & Wine

When We’re Older - James Blake

Washing Machine Heart - Mitski

You Don’t Own Me - Klaus Nomi

Lightning Strikes - Klaus Nomi

Crying Is Cool - The Sonder Bombs

Redwood Reverie - Plas Teg

Go Home. Play Music. Feel Better - Michael Cera Palin

Lemon Lime Lips - Naethan Apollo

Seventeen - MARINA

Totally Fucked - Spring Awakening Cast

Along the Way - The Hunts

Istanbul (Not Constantinople) - The Four Lads

Ballroom Blitz - Sweet

Davy Crochet - The Backseat Lovers

Mother Mary - Foxboro Hottubs 

Soup is Good Food - Dead Kennedys

Valentine - The Hunts

This Time Tomorrow - Brandi Carlile

Sofia - Clairo

Oh Ana - Mother Mother

Kill the Sun - Motherfolk

One Step Ahead - Joey Richter & Curt Mega

Your Stupid Face - Kaden MacKay

This Side of Me - Toddy Walters

i had gay sex with god (it could’ve gone better) - Juno Lev

Listen on Spotify

[glassprism]

Hi! I was researching about the Broadway adaptation of Jane Eyre, and I looked at the Wikipedia page for the actress Marla Schaffel, who played Jane. The wiki says that “She left the theatre after turning down the coveted role of Christine Daaé in Andrew Lloyd Webber's The Phantom of the Opera”. I was wondering if you have any insight onto why she turned it down, and what the situation with that was? I couldn’t find any information on my own, and I figured that you might have some insight. If not, I understand. Thank you!

I legitimately have no idea, and do not particularly care much either (I think I’ve said it before, but I really don’t follow the personal lives of actors involved in Phantom at all; my interest is in the show and how the actors portray the characters, beyond that I have no interest), but I did some Googling and found this thread in which one member states that she turned it down because she did not want to “sleepwalk through a role”.

Keep in mind this is a BWW thread and the poster states that they only heard the story and have no idea if it’s true... so if true, it sounds like she turned it down either because she found the role boring or, maybe, didn’t think she’d do justice to it. The thread makes it sound more like the former, which (if true), I can actually understand. Christine is my favorite character and I think there’s lots an actress can do with it, but on paper, she does come off as someone who spends all her time entranced and pushed around by others.

But that’s just what I found through a really fast Google search. Don’t know if it’s true! Perhaps someone else will.

[brothermarc7theatre]

Musical Monday

Hello and welcome to this week’s Musical Monday post! This week’s show will continue our perusal through the 2000-2001 Broadway season. I have never seen a production of this musical, which also has a straight play counterpart. However, I have listened to its score, and it is quite pretty. Here we go!

Musical Monday date: 6/17/2019

Musical: Jane Eyre

Book, Music, and Lyrics: John Caird, Paul Gordon, and Paul Gordon

Broadway Run: December 10th, 2000 - June 10th, 2001

Awards Won: None

Other: In addition to Best Musical, Jane Eyre did receive nominations for Best Book of a Musical, Best Original Score, Best Actress in a Musical (Marla Schaffel), and Best Lighting Design of a Musical (Jules Fisher, Peggy Eisenhauer). Marla Schaffel did win the Drama Desk award for Outstanding Actress in a Musical.

Fun Fact: John Caird’s two Tony wins are for directing (The Life and Adventures of Nicholas Nickleby; Les Miserables)

Jane Eyre, as mentioned above, has a lovely score to it, and is certainly a musical worth seeing should you ever have the opportunity. If not, then there’s always the masterpiece novel. Until next week, make every effort to go see a show this week!

[mistress-light]

N O C T L U N A   W E E K

Day 1: Lyrics - Brave Enough for Love - Marla Schaffel, James Barbour & Jane Eyre Ensemble 

[bewareofitalics]

Look what Paul Gordon posted on Facebook!  Marla Schaffel and Anthony Crivello rehearsing for Jane Eyre!

[yuramec]

Marla Schaffel ....voice of Dionisia?....yup shes perfect -w-. 

AND THIS SONG IS PERFECT!.

[cdaae]

May 20, 2001, Marla Schaffel, James Barbour, Mary Stout, Elizabeth De Grazia, Video

https://www.mediafire.com/?9ltgfafbfjm7w

[sinfonium]

Brave Enough For Love - Jane Eyre  

[ladiesoftheatre]

“Her spirit is in pieces, her heart has broken at the seams; she craves one drop of kindness, but all she has is shattered dreams...”

Day 103: Jane Eyre (Jane Eyre)