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The Acting Company breathes life into a classic novel by giving it a contemporary appeal.

“This is the first American production of this adaptation,” said Hannah Cabell, who plays the title character in

The Acting Company’s touring production of “Jane Eyre,” the classic Charlotte Bronte novel. “She really captured the spirit of the novel, which is hard to do when turning a 600-page book into a two and a half hour play.”

It’s also quite the tour de force for Cabell as the play follows Jane from ages 10 through 19.

“So it’s up to me to figure out how a person like that matures based on what she goes through,” she said.

Because the novel is so huge, the action on stage moves quickly. There are 23 scenes in the first act alone.

“So instead of making these changes gradually, I had to throw myself into it to make sure the audience feels that she is really going through these things.

“Many people see her as a very angst-ridden character, very frustrated, but I see her as a very strong person, but someone who loses courage and makes a few wrong decisions.”

Cabell also takes issue with the categorization of the novel as a bit of “chick lit.”

“I disagree with that very heartily,” she said. “I see it as a story about a human being. Certainly, it’s an early feminist work, but that shouldn’t keep men from being sucked up in the story and being moved by it.”

Cabell said this production is also greatly enhanced by the presence of an on-stage cellist whose music underscores the dialogue and facilitates changes.

“It really helps to move things along and link together all of the scenes,” she said.

how to go
WHAT: The Acting Company presents “Jane Eyre,” adapted by Polly Teale from the novel by Charlotte Bronte.
WHERE: Jarson-Kaplan Theatre, Aronoff Center for the Arts, 650 Walnut St., Cincinnati.
WHEN: 8 p.m. Monday.
COST: $28.
MORE INFO:(513) 621-2787; cincinnatiarts.org.
 

llustration by Scott McKowen.