Jane Eyre in Jamestown, ND

 A new amateur production of Jane Eyre opens today, November 20, in Jamestown, ND:

Jamestown High School presents

Jane Eyre

Adapted by Thomas Hischak

November 20 & 21 at 7 p.m.

JHS Theater, 1509 10th St NE, Jamestown, ND 58401, USA

The Jamestown Sun has more information:

Drama Director Tony McIntyre said Charlotte Brontë's classic comes to the stage with Thomas Hischak's adaptation of the 1847 novel. The story follows a young girl who has lost her family as she grows and becomes a governess employed by the mysterious Mr. Rochester. After saving Rochester from an attempt on his life by a shadowy figure, Jane finds herself on a journey to become a "free and self-reliant" person. Brontë's novel has stood the test of time with its mystery, romance and reflection on the human experience, McIntyre said.

"When I was looking for a show for this fall, I was hoping to find something that really fit our cast and crew and allowed us to try a new style," McIntyre said. "It also is a way for our students to interact with classic literature and bring some to the community. It's also exciting to see the students show off their skills in acting, design, construction and all of the elements that go into making a great night of theater for Jamestown."

The adaptation attempts to pack in the entire book into around two and a half hours, McIntyre said. Hischak uses three Janes to tell the story: a young Jane, an adult Jane and an older Jane who narrates the tale.

"It's a lot of story to fit in, but Hischak's version is able to capture a lot of why people are still interested in Brontë's tale," McIntyre said.