‘The Gin Game’
The Naked Stage puts on a fundraiser for Mac Morrison with their production of “The Gin Game,” Friday through Sunday, September 28, 29 and 30, 4 p.m.
Weller Martin and Fonsia Dorsey, two elderly residents at a nursing home for senior citizens, strike up an acquaintance. Neither seems to have any other friends, and they start to enjoy each other’s company. Weller offers to teach Fonsia how to play gin rummy and they begin playing a series of games that Fonsia always wins. Weller’s inability to win a single hand becomes increasingly frustrating to him, while Fonsia becomes increasingly confident.
While playing their games of gin, they engage in lengthy conversations about their families and their lives in the outside world. Gradually, each conversation becomes a battle, much like the ongoing gin games, as each player tries to expose the other’s weaknesses, to belittle the other’s life, and to humiliate the other thoroughly.
The 1978 Pulitzer Prize winning play was written by Donald Cobern and is directed by Don Chaloner. The cast features Ed Tasca and Diana Rowland.
Popular lakeside crooner Mac Morrison recently had open-heart surgery. A Go-Fund-Me page has been opened to help. To make a donation, e-mail This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. for the link to the Go-Fund-Me page.
Collection highlights
Chapala’s Centro Cultural Antigua Presidencia opens its doors Friday, September 21, 7 p.m., for a special showing of works drawn from its permanent art collection. The display in the Miguel Miramontes Gallery, located on the second floor of the former town hall building, will include selected paintings, photographs, ceramic figures and mixed media creations acquired from artists who have participated in the center’s shows over the past three years.
Painting Guild
The first exhibition of the season for the Lake Chapala Painting Guild will feature a Mexico theme at the studio of Pat Apt, Ramon Corona 5B, Friday, September 21, 5-7 p.m. Come and enjoy the paintings and refreshments. The paintings, which will be for sale, will remain in place for three weeks.
Spotlight Club
The Ol’ Country Boys break out the steel guitar Friday, September 21, 8 p.m., at The Spotlight Club in San Antonio. The cover is 80 pesos.
Big Band Raphael Terriquez takes over on Saturday, September 22, 7 p.m. Enjoy tunes from the past and present performed by 18 of the finest musicians and vocalists at lakeside. Tickets (they’re going fast) are 350 pesos, available at Diane Pearl or 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..
Puerto Vallarta’s number one band, Us Two, play classic rock and pop Friday, September 28 and Saturday, September 29, 7 p.m. Naomi and Danny are like a super-charged, Mexican version of Sonny and Cher with gorgeous harmonies, great choreography and outstanding accompaniment from the band. Enjoy familiar numbers such as “Ain’t No Mountain High Enough,” “Eye in the Sky,” “Piano Man” and some Abba and Aerosmith hits, along with more of the best music from the 60s through the 90s. Only 100 tickets will be sold; available at Diane Pearl, The Spotlight or stables86@hotmail for group reservations.
LLT season opener
Lakeside Little Theatre’s 2018-2019 season opener, “Clever Little Lies,” continues through Sunday, September 23.
The cast is Barbara Pruitt, Zane Pumiglia, Donny Bryant and M.A. Bruneau, directed by Collette Clavadetscher.
Friday and Saturday performances begin at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday at 4 p.m. Tickets, 250 pesos, are available at the LLT box office one hour before curtain. E-mail This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or call (376) 766-0954.
Jazz jam
Jazz fans rejoice. Eddie Edwards (Dr. Snakepit) and Chuko hookup with local band the Avant Guardians in a free jazz jam concert Sunday, September 23, 6 p.m., at the Auditorio de la Ribera. VIP: 500 pesos, premium: 400 pesos, general admission: 350 pesos – available at Casa Domenech, Zaragoza 109 in Ajijic and the Auditorio, or call 333-150-6940 or 331-566-4147.
Yazkara Godin
“Memorias de la Melancolía” is the title photographer Yazkara Godin chose for her first solo show, set to open Saturday, September 22, 6:45 p.m., at the Centro Cultural Antigua Presidencia de Chapala.
The display in the ground floor gallery at the corner of Avenida Madero and Hidalgo will showcase 20 digital portraits that play on light and shadow to convey sentiments of melancholy. The artist describes it as a somewhat somber exhibition in which she focused her lens on facial expressions with the intention of transporting viewers to other times and places in remembrance of someone or something that has been lost.
Godin is a graduate of of the University of Guadalajara’s School of Visual Arts. Her work has been included in collective shows at the city’s Centro de Arte Moderno and Galería Jorge Martínez, as well as the Universidad Autónoma de Nayarit and the Museo Regional Nayarit in Tepic.
The cocktail opening will be complemented by a stage spectacle in the center’s auditorium titled “Breaking Borders with Culture, Love and Tradition.” The performance features a troupe of Polynesian dancers hailing from schools in Chapala and Guadalajara.
Film Aficionados
Lake Chapala Society members can take advantage of Film Aficionados screenings each Thursday, 2 p.m. On September 27, “First Reformed” (2018, United States) will be screened. Reverend Toller is the pastor at a historic church in upstate New York that was once a stop on the Underground Railroad that helped slaves escape to Canada. A tormented past and worldly concerns bring the pastor to the edge of despair. (109 minutes.)
Traditional Mexican music
Amate and Arpa de Chapala will play a dinner concert, Friday, September 28, 6 p.m. at La Bodega Ajijic. Reservations: 766-1002.
LLT playhouse series
Lakeside Little Theatre presents “Follies,” by James Goldman and Stephen Sondheim, an HD recording of the live production at the National Theatre in London, Saturday, September 29, and Sunday, September 30, 4 p.m. In this dazzling new production of Sondheim’s legendary showbiz musical, Tracie Bennett, Janie Dee and Imelda Staunton play the magnificent Follies. Featuring a cast of 37 and an orchestra of 21, it’s directed by Dominic Cooke. The show captures the glamour of the golden age of music halls and revues with gorgeous showgirl costumes bedazzled with Swarovski crystals.
“One listens in wonder. The score is so rich that no sooner has a certain number registered as a favorite, another comes along to supersede it,” said the New York Times.
Tickets, 250 pesos, are available Wednesday and Thursday, 10 a.m. to noon, at the LLT box office or one hour before curtain.
Inspirational change
Poets, writers, dancers, musicians, singers, painters, sculptors and other artistic types are asked to participate in lakeside’s contribution to the “100 Thousand Poets/Artists for Change” event Saturday, September 29.
Two locations are open for free performances from 5-7 p.m. They are the studio of Pat Apt (Conejo en La Luna) at Ramon Carona 5-B in Ajijic and the studio of Miguel Nuñez (Casa Michin), at the corner of San Diego and Los Angeles in Riberas del Pilar.
To read, dance, play an instrument, sing or organize an arts activity, contact event organizer Lois Schroff 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..
French jazz
Petite Fleur de Paris will give a concert Sunday, September 30, 7 p.m. at La Bodega Ajijic. Cover is 80 pesos. Reservations: 766-1002.
Art classes at LCS
The Lake Chapala Society is offering two drawing classes for LCS members beginning early October. Introduction to Basic Drawing begins October 1 and Introduction to Portraits October 2. Both classes are limited to 10 students. Sign up via e-mail: 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..
Calendar party
Enrique and Belva Velazquez invite the public to the 26th annual opening of their “Our Beloved Mexico” calendar Friday and Saturday, October 5 and 6, 4-8 p.m., at their gallery at 16 de Septiembre 7 in Ajijic.
The original paintings used in the calendar will be on display and for sale and calendars will be signed by the artists.
Fall Viva bus trips
Viva will make eight trips to performances by the Jalisco Philharmonic Orchestra (JPO), the Ballet de Jalisco and a live opera presentation. September 23: “Carmen” and “Bolero” with the Ballet de Jalisco; October 7: Piazolla’s “Four Seasons” (JPO); October 14: Brahms’ Piano Concerto No. 1 (JPO); October 25: Rachmaninov’s Piano Concerto No. 2 (JPO); November 4: Mahler’s Symphony No. 7 (JPO); November 27: Live opera, “Turandot” by Puccini, featuring Oksana Kramereva, Riccardo Massi and the Zapopan Municipal Choir and JPO; December 9: JPO puts on a Baroque Fest with music by Vivaldi, Geminiani, Gabrieli, Bach and Lully; December 13: Ballet de Jalisco performs the “Nutcracker.”
Information on times and ticket prices available at the LCS ticket area, Thursday and Friday, 10 a.m. to noon, or by calling Rosemary Keeling, (376) 766-1801.
Viva also plans three “Live at the Met” bus trips to see opera on the big screen at the Teatro Diana Saturdays in Guadalajara.
October 13: “Aida” by Verdi; November 3: “Samson and Delilah” by Saint Saens; and December 15: “La Traviata” (The Fallen Woman) by Verdi.
Tickets, 450 pesos for members, 550 pesos non-members, are available at the LCS ticket area, Thursday and Friday, 10 a.m. to noon or by calling (376) 766-1801.