Arts & Entertainment

“The Heiress,” directed by Roseann Wilshere, is delighting Lakeside Little Theatre audiences and earning standing ovations each night. Written by Ruth and Augustus Goetz, the play – first staged in 1947 and subsequently made into a movie in 1949 – is based on the 1880 Henry James novel “Washington Square.”

Ballet aficionados have been enjoying “Don Quixote,” this year’s Russian State Ballet Mari El’s tour, at locations all over Mexico since September 29. The company’s month-long schedule comprised 20 performances at venues including Guadalajara, Mexico City, Queretaro, Acapulco and Ajijic. Returning to Russia on October 29 it has only a short turn-around before taking “The Nutcracker” to Germany in mid-November.

A gala concert entitled La Bella Epoca de Mexico Romantico will be staged Saturday, November 16, 7 p.m. at the stately and historic Teatro de Atequiza, located in the eponymous town that lies on the eastern boundary of Ixtlahuacan de los Membrillos.

The Naked Stage concept exists around the world under various names including “Readers’ Theater” and “Bare Bones Theater.” Long-time Lakeside resident Jeritza McCarter founded one as an expat in Japan, which is still going. In 2009 she brought the idea to Lakeside where it has flourished and the entire community benefits as all profits go to the Red Cross. 

Despite a late start that prompted a last-minute change in logistics, the Estudiantina music program held at the Chapala Malecon last Saturday provided two hours of knock-out entertainment for spectators who patiently waited out the delay.

Lakeside Little Theatre (LLT) members returning after the summer have been surprised and disappointed to learn that President Pat Carroll and his wife Terri returned permanently to Canada in early July. A very popular president for ten years, Carroll was an invaluable, well-respected champion of LLT both as an actor and a pro-active board member. His departure will leave a great void at the theater and the wider Ajijic community.