While the big scale, lavish, musical production of Jane Eyre recently closed its pre-Broadway stint in Toronto, New Jersey's Paper Mill Playhouse is presenting its own, non-musical adaptation of the classic by Charlotte Bronte.

In conjunction with the production, which runs through March 29, author/director Robert Johanson (who is also artistic director of Paper Mill), will host a free symposium March 25 on "A Great And Inexplicable Gift: The Strange Lives Of Charlotte, Emily & Anne Bronte." Joining Johanson will be Barry Qualls of Rutgers University, Robert Parks of the Pierpont Morgan Library, and members of the Jane Eyre cast.

Featured in the production are Elizabeth Roby (Jane), Tom Hewitt (Rochester), Glory Crampton (Blanche) and John Littlefiend (St. John). Designers for the show are Michael Anania (set), Gregg Barnes (costumes), Tim Hunter (lighting), Albert Evans (music) and Rick Sordelet (fight choreography).

It's a been an amazingly productive time for Ms. Eyre. Lisa Hayes has been touring the states with her one-woman, 25-character, 80-minute adaptation of the novel. Hayes' Jane Eyre recently ran for a second time in Los Angeles, this time at the Back Parlour Theatre in The Kindness of Strangers Coffee House, through Mar. 1.

Sally Goodwin's solo version of Jane Eyre, titled Jane Of Thornfield Hall, played at New York's Irish Repertory Theatre Feb. 3-12. This one-woman adaptation was directed by Kathe Mull. For tickets and information on the Paper Mill Playhouse Jane Eyre, call (201) 376-4343.

--By Blair Glaser and David Lefkowitz