Bloom stunning as she brings Jane Eyre to life

"JANE EYRE," CLAIRE BLOOM, Allred Theatre, Weber State University, Ogden, Saturday.

OGDEN — A great story from a great storyteller.

That's what an attentive audience got Saturday night in Ogden when esteemed British actress Claire Bloom presented an abridged version of Charlotte Bronte's classic romantic tale "Jane Eyre."

The narrative — dark and dramatic one moment and lyrically poetic the next — was performed as if Jane herself were relating her story.

With her familiar British accent, known to millions through roles in such films as "The Spy Who Came in From the Cold," "Look Back in Anger" and several notable Shakespearean works, Bloom concluded a five-day residency on campus at Weber State University with a stunning one-woman performance.

During a brief preface, Bloom said "Jane Eyre" was first published anonymously in 1847 and quickly became the "supermarket romance" of the day, embraced by readers who were enthralled by the tale's dramatic twists and turns.

Quickly turning through pages on a music stand in a simple setting that included a beautiful carpet, a small table and a large, ornate floral arrangement, Bloom took the rapt audience on a mesmerizing journey into the life and times of Bronte's courageous heroine — from a lonely orphan at Lowood School to being governess for a 10-year-old girl at Thornfield Manor, the vast estate of wealthy, but moody, Edward Rochester.

Although the novel itself was considerably abridged, in order to keep the reading well under two hours in length, the basic plot — focusing on the strong-willed orphan and her relationship with the brooding Rochester — was intact.

Bloom imbued each character with realistic personality as she related the story of Jane discovering the dark secret that foils her wedding day, her newfound independence at a girls' school, and reconnecting with Rochester after a disastrous fire at Thornfield Manor.

The actress, who took only a brief break between the program's two segments, brought the beloved characters to life, letting the fairly sparse audience conjure up images in their own minds. (For those who missed Saturday night's performance — or who would like to revisit it — an audio Talking Books version is available featuring Bloom along with Sir Anthony Quayle and others. Check your local bookstore.)

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