WESTPORT — Westport Community Theatre (WCT), now in its 67th year, will present Pride and Prejudice January 31 through February 16.

Based on Jane Austen’s classic 1813 novel about love, marriage and social status, the stage adaptation by acclaimed director Jon Jory brings all the wit and romance of Austen’s story to the stage in a refreshingly fast-paced and engaging manner.

Finding a husband is hardly the most urgent priority for Elizabeth Bennet (being played by Lynnette Victoria of Bridgeport), but with four sisters, an overzealous match-making mother (Lucy Babbitt), and a string of unsuitable suitors, it’s difficult to escape the subject.

When the independent-minded Elizabeth meets the handsome but enigmatic Mr Darcy (Newtown resident Tony Moreno), she is determined to not let her feelings triumph over her own good sense — but the truth turns out to be slipperier than it seems.

The San Francisco Chronicle hails Jory’s adaptation as “exceptionally clear, funny and moving.”

The Westport production is being helmed by veteran director and actor Mark Frattaroli of Stratford and features a talented cast of area performers.

The cast also includes Henry Durham (Officer/Servant), Isla Hood (Kitty Bennet), Sawyer Peduto (Mr Bingley/Colonel Fitzwilliam) and Erin Wallace (Mary Bennett/Charlotte Lucas) of Fairfield; Patrick Spaulding of New Fairfield (Mr Bennet); Margaret Frattaroli (Jane Bennet) and Brodey Ott (Wickham) of Stratford; Dana Chiapparelli of Westport (Miss Bingley/Mrs Gardiner); and John Bachelder of Woodbridge (Sir William Lucas/Mr Collins/Mr Gardiner).

New York actors include Skyler Forrester Brown of New York City (Lydia Bennet/Georgiana) and Deborah Carlson of Waccabuc (Lady Catherine de Bourgh/Housekeeper).

Carlson appears in the production courtesy of Actors’ Equity Association.

Pride and Prejudice will be staged at Westport Community Theatre, in the lower level of Westport Town Hall, 110 Myrtle Avenue in Westport.

Curtain is 7:30 pm Friday and Saturday and 2 pm Sunday.

An additional performance is planned for Thursday, February 6, at 7:30 pm.

All tickets are $30; group rates are available.

To reserve tickets visit westportcommunitytheatre.com or call 203-226-1983.