BWW Reviews: JANE EYRE Transports Audience

A couple of weeks back, I received a message via Twitter from someone in the Samford University theatre department. After having reviewed a couple of college productions recently, they wanted me to come see what they were doing. I always appreciate an invitation and I especially appreciate this one, because JANE EYRE was a rare treat for me.

I have been to the Wright Center at Samford many times, but I have never been to the Harrison Theatre on Samford's campus. It is a beautiful facility in the building behind the Wright Center. Upon entering the theatre I was intrigued with the round set and the people and things on stage waiting motionless for the show to begin. It is an interesting beginning that is only the start to what would be a transformative night.

The set is on a turntable and is used more effectively than I have ever seen. It helped to keep the many scene changes, which are actually choreographed beautifully into the show, moving swiftly. Between the movement of the set, the lovely props and the pieces flown over the set, the stage is constantly changing and shifting. It is quite spectacular.

Many times during the musical I had to remind myself that this is not a professional company. Between the outstanding cast, gorgeous set and a real 18 piece orchestra in a real orchestra pit, it is hard not to think of these college students as pros.

Carin Lagerberg, a senior at Samford, who already has a professional job lined up after graduation, (Charleston Stage Company where she will portray Mary in MARY POPPINS) is perfect in her role as Jane Eyre. With a beautiful voice she is able to show her angst at having to choose between true love and her beliefs. On stage almost the entire show, which ran nearly 3 hours although you never realize it, Ms. Lagerberg teaches us all how to show a huge range of emotion, move gracefully around a spinning stage and keep singing the entire time. She also transforms before our eyes from a young girl to a mature woman. She is definitely one to watch out for.

I enjoyed the blend of voices between Ms. Lagerberg and J.D. Myers as Edward Rochester. I love a male/ female duet and these two are marvelous together. Both have stellar voices, fit their characters well and show their disdain for each other in the beginning and real passion later on.

Abi Benke, a senior vocal performance major, certainly got to show off her vocal skills. As Blanche Ingram, a conceited suitor for Rochester, she is over the top as she should be.

If there is any weakness to the show, it is the few mistakes made by the technical crew on this opening night. There are lots of light cues, microphones on all 22 members of the cast, and even a scene with a fire that seemed a little too real, so I would have thought they had divine help if it had all gone smoothly. Although a few missed sound cues pulled me out of the moment on stage, the actors quickly drew me back in. And one time when Jane was on stage singing in the dark, before a spot light suddenly hit her, I almost giggled. (She, of course, was perfectly professional through it all.) But that is just me being a picky tech snob. For such a long, tech heavy show, it was overall pretty remarkable.

After the show, I walked out of the theatre and through the amazing rose gardens that surround the theatre. The smell of the huge roses filled the night air. It was a perfect evening, warm with a light breeze. After having been transported to another place and time through music and emotion in the theatre, I could have just rested in the rose garden for hours to hold onto the feelings stirred in me by the play. I think that is what we should strive to achieve in performance, a time for the audience to sit, think and dream. Well done, Samford! Invite me any time!

JANE EYRE continues through May 3. Call the Samford Arts Box Office at 205-726-2853 for ticket information.

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