From the true master of bitter-sweet and poignant comedy/dramas such as “The Good-bye Girl” and “Barefoot in the Park” comes Neil Simon’s “Chapter Two,” presented at the Bare Stage Theatre Friday, August 25, Saturday, August 26 and Sunday, August 27.
This funny, yet thoughtful play reflects the unmistakable Simon touch of lightning-quick repartee.
Chapter Two is driven by four brilliantly penned characters: George, a recently widowed novelist, Jennie, a level-headed actress, Leo, George’s garrulous but loving younger brother; and Faye, Jennie’s utterly clueless but enchanting friend. The plot focuses on George, who has still not moved on from the untimely death of his wife. Meanwhile Leo and Faye are navigating the troubled waters of their own marriages. The connection between the characters is the kind of rocky road journey of quick-witted zingers and compelling plot twists an audience expects from a Neil Simon play.
Sharon Jarvis - no stranger to producing and directing theater here and in her native Canada - directs Debra Bowers, Mark Donaldson, Ron Mikulicic and Maureen O’Hearn.
Doors and bar open 3 p.m. Curtain rises 4 p.m. on all three shows. Tickets are 200 pesos to join in the fun. Reserve now at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..">This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. Reservations are held until 3:50 p.m. Bare Stage Theatre is at 261 on the Carretera in Riberas del Pilar.
Lakeside Series, Saturday, August 26, 1:30 p.m. at the Huerto Café in Riberas del Pilar. Tickets are 150 pesos. Reservations: 376-108-0843.
Southward bound
Sunday, August 27, 12:30 p.m., the Tarkasaya Group will give a free concert at the Centro Cultural Gonzalez Gallo.
The Tarkasaya group sings of Latin American love and traditions, with songs from prominent musical groups such as Illapu, Kjarkas, Inti illimani, Folklorists, Mercedes Sosa and Andean cumbia such as Azkis.
They use a variety of ancestral and current instruments such as kenas, zampoñas, charango, bombo legüero, electric bass, bongos, etc.
Tarkasaya fuses Andean and Latin rhythms with harmonic constructions including Afro syncopation and its integration with Latin American heritage.
Grammy winner
Oaxaca native Fernando Guadarrama, accompanied by an ensemble of musical talent, performs at La Boedga Ajijic, Sunday, September 3, 6 p.m. Guadarrama is a poet, singer, historian and a figure dedicated to the son jarocho genre of music.
Just a few months ago he won a Latin Grammy together with the Afro Latin Jazz Orchestra of Arturo O’Farrill and the Colectivo Conga Patria Son Jarocho for the album “Fandango at the Wall,” in the category “Best Latin Jazz Album.”
Guadarrama will be accompanied by Nirl Cano (Nirl Cano Trío, Ampersan) on the requinto, Omar “El Mostro” (La Marea Fandanguera, Bial Hclap) on the jarana, Orlando Hernández (Quemayama) on the leona, y Tor Aguilar (Xiranda, Ampersan) on the Peruvian cajon. Cover is 150 pesos. Reservations: 376-766-1002.
Versatile stagecraft
A chance invitation to the BRAVO! Theatre performance of Bravura—a collection of talent and a variety of fun and giggles—Tuesday, August 22, was a delightful way to enjoy the evening.
Jayme Littlejohn should be commended both as a stage manager and performer. The audience enjoyed music, dance, comic theatre, over-the-top letters read by cast members on a variety of subjects that had us roaring in our seats and then even tearing up.
The puppetry number by Littlejohn and Wanda White and the a Shakespearian take on the three pigs, narrated by Mark Donaldson, and performed by piggies Ken Yakiwchuk, Kathleen Morris and Sally Jo Bartlett were extremely entertaining.
The one of the four short plays by Robert Anderson’s “You Know I Can’t Hear You, When the Water’s Running:” “I’m Herbert,” performed by Roger Larson and Roxanne Rosenblatt was a total hoot.
Let’s see more of this innovative use of Lakeside stages.
LLT 59th season
Lakeside Little Theatre has season tickets on sale now to see five plays in the 2023-2024 main stage theatre season.
• October 20-29, “Red” by Jon Logan is on, directed by Dave McIntosh.
• December 8-17, “The Little Dog Laughed” by Douglas Carter Beane will be directed by Randy Warren.
• January 26 to February 6, “Jesus Christ Superstar,” with music by Andrew Lloyd Webber and lyrics by Tim Rice, will be directed by Ann Swiston and Dave McIntosh; with Gary Wayne Young as music director and Roy Haynes as choreographer.
• March 1 to 10, Monnie King and Peter King will direct “The Price” by Arthur Miller.
• April 5 to 14, Moliere’s “Tartuffe,” translated by Christopher Hampton, will be directed by Lynn Phelan.
Season tickets are 1,600 pesos with a credit card at lakesidelittletheatre.com. Email: lakesidelittletheatre.com.