Jane Eyre, the musical classic
Act One
Young Jane makes friends with Helen.
Mr.
Brocklehurst and Miss Scratcherd introduce Young Jane to Lowood.
The Lowood
girls sing "Golden Rule."
Blanche plays queen.
Mrs. Fairfax finds her flask empty.
“To hell.”
“And what is Hell? Can you tell me that?”
“A pit full of fire.”
“And should you like to fall into that pit, and burn there forever?”
“No, sir.”
“What must you do to avoid it?”
“Keep in good health and not die.”
Mr. Brocklehurst and Young Jane,
Jane Eyre, the musical classic
~~~
We’re in England in the 1830s, inside the upper-middle class home of Mrs. Reed, aunt to the utterly poor, plain, 10–year old orphan called Jane Eyre. A strong–willed girl, Young Jane speaks her mind, accusing Mrs. Reed of treating her badly. As if to prove Young Jane’s case, Mrs. Reed punishes the girl by locking her up in a dark, frightening room (THINGS THAT GO BUMP IN THE NIGHT).
The following day, the Reed’s kind–hearted Irish maid tries to comfort the exhausted and depressed Young Jane (LULLABY). She calls a doctor to see the girl, and when he asks Young Jane if she'd like to go away to school, she jumps at the idea. Sent to a strict and sparse girl’s school called Lowood (THE GOLDEN RULE), Young Jane meets her only friend among its students: Helen Burns. But the Lowood life is a hard one, and Helen’s constitution can’t withstand it; she dies, leaving Young Jane on her own (THERE’S A PLACE THAT’S BETTER)...We are introduced to a grown–up Jane, 20 years old and eager to seek a better future...
Jane discovers a life as a governess at Thornfield Hall, a grand estate where her student—a coquettish French girl named Adele—and Mrs. Fairfax, a delightful (though eccentric) housekeeper, become her family. Still, from the beginning Jane senses all is not what it seems at Thornfield.
One evening, on a lonely, foggy road outside Thornfield, Jane meets a strange man, who, after questioning her, disappears into the British fog. Only when Jane returns to Thornfield does she discover the stranger is actually her true employer—Mr. Edward Rochester, Adele’s guardian. His manner is gruff yet engaging, and he is eager to learn all about Jane (MY LOVE LIES WAITING). By the end of the evening, both Jane and Edward feel the first whispers of their attraction to each other (FEEL MY HEART?).
In a month’s time , Mr. Rochester has left Thornfield, with Jane anxious for his return. She discovers he is courting Blanche Ingrahm, a wealthy, beautiful woman, and chides herself for thinking he might consider a poor, plain girl like herself. Rochester returns home with many guests, including Blanche (THE IMPORTANT THINGS IN LIFE). Jane is miserable as she watches Blanche and Rochester flirt. Thankfully, the evening is interrupted by an unexpected guest, and all in Thornfield retire.
Or so it seems. Creeping out from some unknown room, a straggled, deranged woman appears and lights fire to Mr. Rochester’s bed (PRETTY, PRETTY LIGHT). Jane wakes Rochester, saving his life and later contemplates her relationship with him as Blanche, who’s been spying on the pair, regrets her situation (NEARLY MINE).
Another evening’s festivities at Thornfield: Guests are drinking, eating, playing cards and charades—and Jane is forced into a reading with an old gypsy woman (FORTUNES). The gypsy insists Jane’s greatest happiness is within her reach, and wonders that Jane makes no move to grasp it. Then suddenly, the gypsy tears off her costume, revealing that she is none other than Mr. Rochester. But as the act ends, the laughter of Rochester’s guests is interrupted by blood–curdling screams.
HOME The Inspiration Song Clips Email Us Links
Isn't There Another Jane Eyre musical? Quiz