This
musical’s score floors me. I think it’s
gorgeous, and the way it adds melody and rhyme to the themes, and even some of
the words, of the book might make it my favorite Jane Eyre adaptation I’ve encountered. My favorite songs from the show are as
follows (some spoilers.)
(Also,
side note: I’ll admit that, when I was younger, I didn’t put much stock in the
allegations against actor James Barbour, so it didn’t affect my love for the
cast recording for quite a long time. In recent years, though, I’ve soured more
on Barbour, which has turned me off listening to many songs featuring
Rochester, but I’ll still sing them on my own regularly. I wish someone would
revive this show so I could get a recording with a different cast.)
“The Orphan” – While “Sweet Liberty” later takes the
same melody and turns it into a more triumphant number, this, at the opening of
the show, introduces us to Jane as a character.
The lyrics splendidly paint a picture of all the anger inside Jane at
the injustices she’s suffered, all the crimes of circumstance that conspire
against her. It’s just so badass – I
love it.
Best
lyric: “And the lightning strikes inside
her / As she looks to the sky. / And she pledges to spread her wings - /
Through a hurricane she’ll fly.”
“As Good As You” – In this beautiful
solo, Rochester tells Jane of his history with Adele’s mother, both his wild
days and his heartbreak. The nonchalance
with which she passes Adele off to him is just staggering, and I love the final
verse, with Rochester imagining how his life might have gone differently. The melody is so perfect.
Best
lyric: “‘Nothing lasts forever,’ she
said. / ‘Find the door yourself, dear, won’t you? / Think me still your flower.
/ I’ve treasured every hour, it’s true. / And if I had loved you, too, / I
might have been as good as you.’”
“Painting Her Portrait” – This is such a
heartbreaking song, Jane giving herself a wakeup call by painting, first a
portrait of herself, then one of Blanche, to remind herself that Rochester
could never love her. She’s so utterly
brutal to herself, and it’s just devastating to listen to.
Best
lyric: “I’m mastering detail, / Highlighting
defects, / Making a permanent mirror to see / All of the faults that lie hidden
in me.”
“In the Light of the Virgin Morning” – A really nice duet
for Jane and Blanche. Although each is
lost in her own separate thoughts – Blanche with the preparations for marrying
Rochester, Jane with the prospect of leaving Thornfield – their melodies and
the themes they sing about intertwine them.
The overlapping bridge is especially lovely, and I like that this song
humanizes Blanche a little, letting her worry about whether or not she’ll be
able to love Rochester.
Best
lyric: “In the light of the virgin
morning, / In the shade of the chestnut tree, / If I leave this unhappy bliss,
/ Where will my Eden be?”
“Sirens (Reprise)” – I love the initial
version of “Sirens” too, but the Act II version is even better. In it, Jane wrestles with her struggle of
loving Rochester but being unable to marry him, and despite her longing to
simply give in to his siren call, she cannot break with her principles. Absolutely beautiful, and the lyrics take
Jane through her dilemma stunningly.
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