New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1872-12-18
"Jane Eyre, at the Varieties,


| elfsh, proud as Lucifer, but lovable a
Mary, Immediately created a stir in tht
t world, has stood the test of criticism anC
the iconoclastic spirit of these latter days
The adaptation from the novel was played
the last two nights at the Varieties. 1t is a
HIT most decided hit. Somehow Charlotte
Thompson so identified herself with the
prototype that those who have read the
novel caught themselves wondering if this
lady was not somewhere about the woman
who created this type Of the pure Norman
stock that has lent to English history its
glory and its wonder. For all the traits
seemed fitted to the actual self, and in the
quiet stamp Of the model one saw the origi-
nal, winning sympathy with every word,
involving every heart in the whirl Of pas
sion as we'll as in its depths and calm.
The play opens with the expulsion Of
JG3le from the house Of her amt to the
asylum where they taught humility, and
where her aunt desired she should be pun
ished for herpIide and her unbending dispo-
sition. 4 long skip is made from this time
to the introduction Of the little woman into
the house Of Lord Rochester as governess
to his ward, where the model English house
keeper is for the first time shown, and one
has an insight into the homes Of the lordly
and the great, the titled and the noble.
As usual with adaptations, the most in
teresting part Of the novel, the life at the
asylum where they teach humility. is left
out. This is not surprising.
The govelness makes the acquaintance Of
Lord Rochester at a time when he comes
near breaking his neck from dash by his
favorite horse Mesrour. In his short, grutf
way, he tells her to go home like good
! girl, which advice she takes. He finds out
| that the elf at whom his horse SHED was
none other than the governess, and after
little conversation she readily shows him
| the sketches she has made, which he finds
unlike ANYTHING he has seen before. She
becomes interested in him and he in her,
| though each, true to the cold English re
| serve, shows to neither one iOta Of what
moving at the heart.
His demeanor becomes strangely polite,
when one thinks it is only governess. and
as he admires the sketches in water colors
he is secretly winding himself up
When the second act opens she is discoy-
cred watching for his return, and waiting
at the window. The housekeeper permits
| her to read letter, in which she finds out
that he has sent her a pink silk dress, which
I he desires the goyeIHess to wear. that she
may be presentable. Her pride Will not let
her wear it, for like every proud woman, or
man either she knows her place. and can
not appear before the assembled guests I'm.
less it is as a governess.
Interviews take place between them, in
which the indomitable pluck and high
spirit Of the young woman are uppermost
The guests turn out to be none other than
Ge0rgian0 and her aunt; the former a
naughty and scheming widow, the latter
still the same woman who hates her 81 like
poison" In this act she stoops down and
ties the shoe Of the young widow to save
tile ward Of the host from punishment
something, certainly. for a proud woman
to DO. but not at all contradictory, when
we consider that pride IS always accompa.
MED with devotion and magnanimity. Il
IS here tie robIeness os Jo1ts Eyre finds its
greatest Illustration.
In the wind up the aun? appears to a
great diSad vantage With her Hleee. whom
she has turned OUT in Tie Geld and made to
eat the bitter bread 0t humiliation and
neglect. She, SO mlaused, hates her not. A
good angel, she stands by he. in affection.
and socthes her anguish and her poignant
grief Then it turns out that size has con"
cealed letters from Jonc EWe'' uncle. who
is in the West Indies, because she could not
bear to see be- wealthy, and these letters
would have revealed il. Miss Geo1yiano
suspects how things are, but her mother il
her misfortunes consoles herself with the
thought that her daughter viii marry rich
and she viii have home, ana indeed il j.
common report that Lori RocLesie.. is to
marry her, which part Of the play leaves
the beholder in suspense as to how !; is all
to end.
When she tells him she must Leave the
house and 60 abroad. comes about in a very
few words a declaration Of love. an otfeg OF
marriage and the curtain.
The maniac woman who is about the
house, and whose wild and horrible laugh
chil!s the blood, is supposed 30 be :Ae for.
mer Lady Rochester. She. in maniac
frenzy, sets fire to the bed Of her supposed
husband, when Jane Eyre. not knowing Of
the attempt rusles in. wakes him and saves
him from being burned alive.