China Daily Global Edition (USA)
Fresh Eyre
A new version of classic play, based on Charlotte Bronte’s novel, is being staged in Beijing, Chen Nan reports.
Pu is an actor whose skills are like water, easily taking on different forms for his roles.” Wang Xiaoying, director, talking about the lead actor Pu Cunxin in the latest theater adaptation of JaneEyre
Since its premiere in 2009, the Chinese play Jane Eyre, adapted from Charlotte Bronte’s classic novel of the same name and produced by the National Center for the Performing Arts, has toured across China 16 times.
The play is once again being staged at the NCPA in Beijing through Thursday, with actress Zhu Jie playing the role of Jane Eyre and actor Pu Cunxin as Edward Rochester.
In 2009, Jane Eyre was the first Chinese play produced by the NCPA — two years after its opening.
“I remember the excitement when I directed the play. The story is a classic and the creative team members were nervous, but devoted,” recalls Wang Xiaoying, who has continued to direct the play since then and has worked on the latest version.
In 2009, the two leading roles were played by actress Yuan Quan and actor Wang Luoyong, whose acting won acclaim from both critics and the audience. In this latest version, Pu and Zhu are collaborating for the first time.
Wang Xiaoying is excited about their onstage chemistry.
“Characters are brought to life by actors and actresses. With their different personalities, approaches to acting and understanding of the roles, they will bring a sense of freshness to the audience,” she says.
Chinese audiences are familiar with the story of Jane Eyre, which was first published in 1847 and later translated into Chinese. A 1970 movie, directed by Delbert Mann and starring George C. Scott and Susannah York, was screened in China during the 1980s and became a success.
The book’s story revolves around the eponymous character, who is raised by her uncle’s family following the death of her parents when she was 10 years old. With her strength and confidence, she gets a job as a governess at Thornfield Hall, where she meets her employer, the wealthy and impetuous Edward Rochester.
The two fall in love and decide to get married. However, Rochester has yet to tell his bride-to-be about his mad wife, who is locked away because of her violent behavior. Since their marriage is illegal, Eyre flees Thornfield.
When she finally returns, she finds Rochester’s house burned down due to a fire caused by his wife, who has jumped to her death. Rochester, in an attempt to save her, was blinded. Reunited, Eyre and Rochester marry.
Zhu, 38, played the role of Jane Eyre in 2010 when she stood in for Yuan several times. Zhu graduated in acting from the Shanghai Theater Academy and is now an actress with the Shanghai Dramatic Arts Center.
Zhu says she initially found some parts of the story challenging to perform.
“For example, in one scene, where Rochester insists on bringing Jane fine jewels and expensive dresses, which makes her uncomfortable. I couldn’t understand her anger, so I couldn’t speak the lines from my heart,” recalls Zhu.
“But now, I am older and have gone through lots of things in my life, like marriage and motherhood. I can connect to the character more easily and can naturally speak out the lines in the play.”
Zhu says the director has inspired the cast with the novel’s original lines and she enjoys doing the rehearsals, which also allows her to discover her potential every day.
Pu, 69, who is an actor and director with Beijing People’s Art Theater, says: “I’ve read the novel and watched the movie, and both have had a far-reaching influence on me. It’s like the music conductors who hope to perform masterpieces of famous composers like Mozart and Beethoven. For actors, Rochester is a dream role — he is a character who is hurt, angry and stern.”
Pu and Wang Xiaoying had talked about working together for a long time. In 2019, when the NCPA celebrated the Chinese play’s 10th anniversary, Wang Xiaoying invited Pu to play the role of Rochester.
However, after the COVID-19 pandemic hit, the plan was suspended.
“When we could finally sit down and read the script together, I was thrilled. Now, we are doing rehearsals and it’s really happening,” says Pu.
Wang Xiaoying says: “Pu is an actor whose skills are like water, easily taking on different forms for his roles.”
Pu, who has played lots of classic roles adapted from Western literature, such as William Shakespeare’s Hamlet and King Lear, says transferring literature into stage work is “magical”.
“I am drawn to literature, especially classic novels like Jane Eyre, which I can read over and over again. The hero and the heroine are really difficult to love and they struggle with their own lives. Only when we, personally, go through difficult experiences, can we gain a deeper understanding about the story and the characters,” says Pu.