Pride and Prejudice by Kate Hamill, based on the novel by Austen will run through Sunday, March 8 at West Hartford’s Playhouse on Park.

The theater promises “This isn’t your grandmother’s Austen!” saying its been adapted for a new era in a way that explores “the absurdities and thrills of finding your perfect (or imperfect) match in life.” Special events scheduled with the play include a wine and cheese reception before the show on Friday, Feb. 21, along with talk backs after each Sunday matinee, and young professional night on Saturday March 7, with a 6:30 reception and an 8 p.m. performance.

A new stage version of Charlotte Bronte’s Jane Eyre, adapted by Elizabeth Williamson, associate artistic director of Hartford Stage, runs through Saturday, March 14. There will be AfterWords Discussions after the 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 25 performance; the 2 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 26 matinée; and the 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, March 3 performance. Members of the cast and artistic staff join audience members for a free discussion. There also is a Sunday afternoon discussion planned for Feb. 23 after the 2 p.m. matinée.

Williamson, the director, says she was attracted to Jane Eyre because “it’s the first novel that is written as an autobiography from a female point of view. So it’ the first time a novelist has a woman speaking directly to the audience and saying, ‘This is what I want out of life, and I’m gonna go get it.’”

Hartford Eats

If you’re looking for a place to eat in Hartford, here are some options:

• The Capital Grille, 44 Front Street, Hartford. 860-244-0075. Sure, it’s a national chain, but one that’s tried and true, serving dry-aged steaks, seafood, with a decent selection of wines.

• Max Downtown, CityPlace, 185 Asylum Street, Hartford. Sometimes offers complimentary valet. 860-522-2530. This is the flagship Max Restaurant Group, which has been in business for more than 20 years. Classic fine dining with a whiskey bar, too.

• Trumbull Kitchen, 150 Trumbull Street, Hartford. Phone: 860-493-7412. Also part of the Max group, this one has a more casual vibe, and serves up everything from mac and cheese to Chinese chicken salad.

West Hartford Eats

If you’re looking for a place to eat in West Hartford, here are some options:

• Restaurant Bricco, 78 LaSalle Road, West Hartford. 860-233-0220. Simple fare, well made with a focus on Italian-American. Menus change daily.

• Max’s Oyster Bar, 964 Farmington Avenue, West Hartford. 860-236-6299. Another from the Max group. This is like Legal Seafood, only better. Offers a variety of oysters from both coasts, lots of shellfish, and salads and burgers for those who would rather not eat an oyster.

• Pond House Café, 1555 Asylum Avenue, West Hartford. 860-231-8823. Set in Elizabeth Park, the café offers a wide range of fare, from nachos to duck confit over a warm lentil salad with pancetta crisp.

• bartaco, 971 Farmington Avenue, West Hartford. 860-586-8226. This is my favorite because I love tacos. The menu includes tacos, “not tacos” (chopped salads, roast chicken, chicken soup, and the like), and rice bowls.

If you want to make a day of it, consider checking out the gold-domed Victorian Gothic architecture of the State Capitol building at 210 Capitol Avenue in Hartford. If the weather is decent, Bushnell Park and Elizabeth Park are nice places for a stroll. And West Hartford center has some great shopping, with more stores nearby in Blue Back Square.