In Newton, the “naked” stage is set for a reading of “Bakersfield Mist,” a play about a woman who purchases a cheap painting in a thrift store only to learn it might actually be a masterpiece.
The story unfolds when unemployed bartender Maude (played by Heather Christie) invites art expert Lionel (Larry Doan) from New York to her California trailer-park home to assess the authenticity of what she believes to be a lost Jackson Pollock painting.
Naked Stage Productions presents a reading of Stephen Sachs’ acclaimed script at Newton Cultural Centre from Friday, April 19 to Sunday the 21st.
“Using the painting as a vehicle to navigate the conflict between truth and belief, the play explores much more – it examines human nature and what guides our perceptions,” director Bridget Browning explains.
“Art may be in the eye of the beholder, but what about class, income, education, common sense or life experience? These two characters personify these questions and ultimately reveal more about themselves and the qualities we value more than the search for truth.”
Maude Gutman plays fast and loose with four-letter words, so consider yourself forewarned during the three show times (7:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday, 2 p.m. Sunday). Tickets ($22) are sold on nspsociety.com/upcoming-shows, or show up at the theatre, 13530 72 Ave., Surrey.
A bio describes Christie as a seasoned actor, devoted wife, nurturing mother and cherished grandmother whose passion for the stage has illuminated audiences on and off for much of her adult life. Her most recent stage roles include Zelda in “Other Desert Cities” and Mom in “The Best Divorce Ever,” both with White Rock Players Club.
Meantime, Doan counts “Bakersfield Mist” as his third show with Naked Stage, after playing Edward in “Courtship” and Frank in “Alone Together Again” over the past year. He’s been involved with several community theatre groups over the past 38 years, mostly musical theatre and light opera.
While the Naked Stage name might imply an erotic happening, it’s the stage that’s naked, not performers. The company’s shows don’t have movement, extensive lighting, sound systems or props, and the stage is bare except for the actors seated on stools and music stands for their scripts.
Later this month, auditions are April 27 for Naked Stage’s next reading, “The Lifespan of a Fact,” directed by Kelly Thompson for a run from June 7-9. The plot: Jim Fingal is a fresh-out-of-Harvard fact-checker for a New York magazine. John D’Agata is a talented writer with a transcendent essay about the suicide of a teenage boy – an essay that could save the magazine from collapse. When Jim is assigned to fact-check the essay, the two become knotted in a comedic yet gripping battle over facts versus truth. To book an audition, contact Thompson by email, kellyinva@gmail.com. Include a recent headshot and acting resume.