Branwell (and the Other Brontës): An Autobiography Edited by Charlotte Brontë
Reviewed by Socks Whitmore
The Loft Ensemble
Through March 26
Recommended
Yet another production originally slated for spring of 2020 has at last made its way to the stage: the world premiere of Stephen Kaplan’s Branwell (and the Other Brontës): An Autobiography Edited by Charlotte Brontë, brought to life by the members of the Loft Ensemble. Rooted in the known history of the Brontë family — made famous by the literary success of the novelist sisters, Charlotte, Emily, and Ann — the play centers around the somewhat “secret” sibling, the lone brother Patrick Branwell Brontë, and features all four adult siblings (and the ghosts of their deceased older sisters) as they play in the extensive fantasy worlds they have devised together.
One of the unique elements of this production is the elaborate displays of educational material in the lobby that trace the real-world life events of the Brontë family. From a timeline tree formed of torn pages to lit candles and a copy of Emily’s Wuthering Heights upon an upright piano, the attention to ambiance is excellent and the magic of theater sets in even before you sit down. The set itself similarly draws from the page-filled world of the Brontës, featuring manuscript papers suspended on strings around the stage and wooden “open books” (with original Brontë text inked upon them) used as movable, versatile furniture pieces. The lighting design also plays an important role in the show’s storytelling, using different colored lights to indicate each of the imagined universes the Brontës travel to.
Even if you don’t know anything about the family Brontë or their books, this show is easy to enjoy. All references to the Brontë’s literature are spelled out completely, the actors display a masterful control over the various instances of exciting physicality, and the sprinkling of comedy throughout brings a nice levity to the heavier moments of drama. The show is somewhat dialogue heavy, which tracks for the word-driven nature of its subjects. But the main four siblings perform the witty banter well, and the writing successfully presents them as distinctly different individuals while also showing a clear sense of family. Though the character of Emily Brontë is not written as shy or reserved as history has sometimes noted her — and in fact could benefit from some more variety in her levels of intensity — Sarah Sommers gives a stand out performance, most impressively executing an incredible monologue scene in which she rapidly bounces back and forth between two characters in dialogue. The two ghost sisters are flatter in performance (perhaps unavoidably due to the nature of being dead), and the aggressive manner of the character Elizabeth feels especially forced. The show is bookended by a dark, understated opening and a powerful send-off both delivered by Charlotte Brontë, the longest-lived of the six siblings, and leaves you with a revelation about the play, the Brontës, and family as a whole.
This show will definitely grab longtime Brontë fans and those inclined towards biographical dramas, but it’s also a great choice for any audience member interested infamilial relationships, imagination, play, and creation in the face of loss. And even if Jane Eyre isn’t for you, this play just might be.
Loft Ensemble, 11031 Camarillo Street, North Hollywood; Fri.-Sat., 8 pm, Sun., 7 pm; thru March 26. www.loftensemble.org Running time: 90 minutes with no intermission.
