Theater troupe president opted to 'Eyre' on the side of romance
By MICHAEL SMITH World Scene Writer, 11/17/2003
Kara Bellavia plays Jane, a governess who falls in love with her employer, Mr. Rochester, played by Steven Eiler, in Youth Onstage's production of "Jane Eyre." JAMES GIBBARD/ Tulsa World
Morgan Powell first read "Jane Eyre" when he was 16 years old, and he was so convinced that it was the perfect novel and the greatest love story of all time that he never read another work of fiction.
Except to re-read "Jane Eyre" several more times through the years, said Powell, the president of Youth Onstage, which opens a production of Charlotte Bronte's classic on Friday night.
"In my callow youth, I decided that that was the end-all, and I didn't want to read any story that would compete with that one," said Powell of that first experience 41 years ago. "I've always only read non-fiction, but nothing I've read in non-fiction really competes with that story, for me."
"Jane Eyre" tells the bittersweet tale of a passionate young woman who survives a horrible childhood to become a governess who falls in love with her troubled yet compelling employer, Mr. Rochester.
But scandalous revelations wreck their wedding day and send her fleeing. After much soul-searching, Jane returns to the aftermath of tragic events to a reunion that at long last allows her to experience true happiness.
"It's really the promise that if you do experience setback and tragedy in life, that there is always the possibility of redemption and forgiveness and a second chance," Powell said. "When you're young, you're going to make a lot of mistakes in life, and you think that those mistakes are going to shape you forever, but that's countered by this story that you can lose everything and sometimes unmerited grace comes into your life and redemption happens.
"That's what kind of inspired me to lead my life the way that I did: You know you're going to make mistakes, but it's not always the end-all. You learn from them and move on, and sometimes beautiful, wonderful things happen when you least expect them."
Local theater veteran Lisa Stefanic directs a cast of young people that includes Kara Bellavia as Jane and Steven Eiler as Rochester, as well as Matt Baber, Alan Davidson, Shannon Gettel, Jacob Muselmann, Daniel Puma, Anita Rice, Karli Riggs, Holly Rongey, Bethany Ross, Lauren Twist, Allison Victor, Joanne Watkins and Shelby Woods.
The Youth Onstage production of "Jane Eyre" will be presented at 7:30 p.m. Friday-Saturday and 2 p.m. Sunday at the Nightingale Theater, 1416 E. Fourth St. Tickets may be reserved by calling 371-3622.