After Mrs Rochester - Alumnae Theatre

Alumnae Theatre Company launches its 92nd season with the Canadian premiere of After Mrs. Rochester. Jean Rhys was a troubled, Caribbean-born writer who strongly identified with a fictional counterpart - Mr. Rochester’s mad first wife in Charlotte Brontë's classic 1847 novel “Jane Eyre”. In 1966, after decades of silence, Jean Rhys produced her masterpiece: a “Jane Eyre” prequel titled “Wide Sargasso Sea”, told from the perspective of Rochester’s reluctant West Indian bride. Drawing on the famous works of both Brontë and Rhys, British playwright Polly Teale’s powerful drama interweaves Jean's demons – past and present - with those of her alter ego, to explore their toll on the writer’s stormy life. Directed by Laura Roald, the production features Susan Q Wilson as Jean Rhys and Jessica Rose as her younger self, with Kanika Ambrose, Julie Burris, Laura Jabalee, Tabitha Keast, Tina McCulloch and Laine Newman as various characters who haunted Jean’s life – including Jane Eyre, Mr. Rochester, and Bertha Rochester. There will be a Talkback with director and cast following the Sunday matinee performance on October 2. SHOWTIMES: Sept 23 - Oct 8, 2011. Wed - Sat at 8pm; Sun at 2pm TICKETS: 2-for-1 Wed; $20 Thu/Fri/Sat; PWYC Sun. RESERVATIONS; 416-364-4170 box 1 or reservations@alumnaetheatre.com Find the Event on Facebook and read the blog at http://alumnaetheatre.wordpress.com/ 70 Berkeley Street