`JAKE'S WOMEN' CAST SHOWS POWER.Byline: Victoria Giraud Special to the Daily News What's a writer to do? He gets so involved creating his characters and plots, he soon doesn't know how to handle real life and real pleasures, and he can't distinguish between fiction and reality. It's a dilemma for Jake, played by Ronald Rezac, in Neil Simon's ``Jake's Women Jake's Women is a play by Neil Simon. It centers on Jake, a writer with a struggling marriage. Jake talks to many of the women he knows, both in real life and in his imagination, as he works to save his marriage. ,'' playing through this weekend at the Simi Valley Simi Valley (sē`mē, sĭm`ē), city (1990 pop. 100,217), Ventura co., SW Calif. in an oil, fruit, and farm region; laid out 1887, inc. 1969. Cultural Arts Center. ``Jake's Women'' wittily tackles that age-old dilemma, the relationship between men and women. Jake tries to work out his challenges with women by pretending to have conversations with them. The play bounces back and forth between the real and the imaginary, all of it acted out on stage. In his head, Jake invents dialogue with his wife, Maggie, played by Mary Super, and the two reminisce rem·i·nisce intr.v. rem·i·nisced, rem·i·nisc·ing, rem·i·nisc·es To recollect and tell of past experiences or events. [Back-formation from reminiscence. about their first meeting. That romantic remembrance is a cover-up for his concerns that she is having an affair and that their marriage is falling apart. When the real Maggie comes home, Jake learns to his dismay that she wants a trial separation. She says that he is distant and doesn't listen to her and that she can't compete with his dead first wife. After Maggie leaves, he needs his imaginary conversations Imaginary Conversations is the greatest work of Walter Savage Landor. With six volumes in total, the first two volumes were published in 1824, followed by a third in 1828, and various others up to 1853. more than ever. He conjures up his sister, Karen, played by Leslie Nichols. After complaining about the tacky outfits he has invented for her, she tells him he's too dependent upon women. When Jake needs extra counseling, he invents a session with his analyst, Edith (Virginia Streat). At various times during the play, his daughter, Molly, appears - as played at age 12 by Erin Cariker and at 21 by Jennifer Leonardo. Even his dead wife, Julie - with Kim Little in the role - comes for an imaginary conversation. Imaginary conversations almost do him in when he is courting Sheila (Jeanie Hays). As he tries to communicate his uncertain intentions to Sheila, Maggie's sarcastic sar·cas·tic adj. 1. Expressing or marked by sarcasm. 2. Given to using sarcasm. [sarc(asm) + -astic, as in enthusiastic. comments from fantasy conversation keep intruding in·trude v. in·trud·ed, in·trud·ing, in·trudes v.tr. 1. To put or force in inappropriately, especially without invitation, fitness, or permission: . Sheila exits frantically, convinced that Jake is crazy. The play ends on several notes of self-discovery, after we have recognized ourselves and had our laughs. Simon always wraps his truths and frustrations in amazing a·maze v. a·mazed, a·maz·ing, a·maz·es v.tr. 1. To affect with great wonder; astonish. See Synonyms at surprise. 2. Obsolete To bewilder; perplex. v.intr. wit, and this play is no exception. Under Gerald Castillo's fine direction, the performances - led by Rezac's phenomenal portrait of Jake - are natural and comfortable. ``Jake's Women'' is one of the best productions I've seen at the Simi Center. THE FACTS: WHAT: ``Jake's Women,'' by Neil Simon Noun 1. Neil Simon - United States playwright noted for light comedies (born in 1927) Marvin Neil Simon, Simon . WHEN: 8 p.m. today and Saturday; 2 p.m. Sunday. WHERE: Simi Valley Cultural Arts Center, 3050 Los Angeles Los Angeles (lôs ăn`jələs, lŏs, ăn`jəlēz'), city (1990 pop. 3,485,398), seat of Los Angeles co., S Calif.; inc. 1850. Ave. COST: Adults, $15; students and seniors, $12; children 12 and under, $8. INFORMATION: (805) 581-9940. CAPTION(S): Photo Photo: Ronald Rezac, playing Jake, and Leslie Nichols as Jake's sister, Karen, share a scene in a Neil Simon play, ``Jake's Women,'' in Simi. |
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