Kent State University's school of theatre and dance performed a rendition of the classic, Jane Eyre this month. The show was a musical with all of the necessary elements to lift you from your seat and submerse youinto a society in nineteenth century England from the time the cell phone shut-off announcement was made until the last note at the curtain call. The recurring arches, darkened, soft lighting, and the use of a classic chorus to go along with them alluded that a sinister underbelly of social status and reputation were present in the performance.

One of the first things that an audience member noticed was the grandeur of the set. It was composed of a gothic-style foreground with rustic twigs of a root-like earthy appearance. There were grand arches for windows and entries as well. Also, the background was a large arch with the silhouette of roots. There were also two matching greek-style pillar arches on either side of the stage. They added a lot to many messages of the show. For one, they were grand structures that were barren inside which is much like Mr. Rochester himself. He was a man of high social stature but felt enslaved by his trick of a marriage and his grand yet incomplete (without a true love) home. The arches also suggest the importance of reputation with the same sort of fundamental grand image yet emptiness. The way that people are enslaved yet scramble to ascertain that solid image amongst their peers. The arches were almost inviting the audience to come inside to reveal their secret, the thing that was hidden deep inside that could send the structure crumbling in ruin.