Playing the cards you’re dealt

Kathy Marden and Edward Giron portray characters reviewing their lives in ‘The Gin Game’

By DAVE MASON NEWS-PRESS MANAGING EDITOR

Talk about multitasking! Kathy Marden and Edward Giron face the challenge of playing a game of gin rummy while acting in — what else? — “The Gin Game.”

In fact, this two-person play is much more than a game, as Ms. Marden and Mr. Giron will prove as they play Fonsia Dorsey and Weller Martin — two seniors dealing with the cards life has dealt them.

Ms. Marden and Mr. Giron will perform the Pulitzer Prizewinning play at 7:30 p.m. Feb. 2-4 at the Center Square Theater, upstairs at Paseo Nuevo in Santa Barbara. They also will act there during the 2 p.m. matinees Feb. 4 and 5.

The play is directed by Ken Gilbert and E. Bonnie Lewis.

The story’s two characters meet at a retirement home, where they play gin with each other as they reflect on their lives.

“I think they are very real,” Mr. Giron told the News-Press as Ms. Marden listened. “Some of their emotions may be enhanced because of the dramatic aspects of the play.”

Mr. Giron said his character, Weller, has achieved a high degree of success in his life.

But Weller has his share of regrets as well.

“He’s been thwarted numerous times, sometimes by himself, sometimes by the circumstances. He’s become frustrated because as he gets older, the opportunities are less and less,” said Mr. Giron.

“He meets this woman (Fonsia),

11 a.m. to 5 p.m. The exhibit “Parliament of Owls” runs through Feb. 5 at the Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History, 2559 Puesta del Sol, Santa Barbara. Hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Wednesdays through Mondays. For more information, go to www. sbnature.org.

JAN. 28

10 a.m. to 1 p.m. An art and wellness workshop for adults will meet at the Vita Art Center, 28 W. Main St. in Ventura. Cost is $98.

7:30 p.m. The Santa Barbara Chamber Players orchestra will perform at the First United Methodist Church of Santa Barbara, 305 E. Anapamu St. Tickets cost $16. To purchase, go to sbchamberplayers.org.

JAN. 31

6 pm. Nick Hornby will discuss his book, “Dickens and Prince: A Particular Kind of Genius,” with fellow writer Jessica Anya Blau at Chaucer’s Books, 3321 State St. in Loreto Plaza, Santa Barbara.

Mr. Hornby will also sign copies of his book. For more information, call Chaucer’s at 805-682-6787 or go to www.chaucersbooks.com.

FEB. 1 10 a.m. to 5 p.m Central Coast artist and London native Annie Hoffman’s exhibit “Seeing Ourselves in Colour” will be displayed through Feb. 28 at Gallery Los Olivos, 2920 Grand Ave., Los Olivos. For more information, visit anniehoffmann.com.

FEB. 2

8 a.m. to 5 p.m. The Santa Ynez Tribal Health Clinic will provide free dental care for local children during its third annual Give Kids A Smile event on Feb. 2. The free day of exams, cleanings and more will take place at the clinic, located on the Chumash Reservation at 90 Via Juana Lane,l Santa Ynez.

FEB. 5 Free admission will be available on this day at the Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History, the Museum of Ventura County, the Museum of Ventura County’s Agriculture Museum and the Santa Paula Museum. For more information, visit socalmuseums.org.

FEB. 14

6 to 7:30 p.m. Nicole Lvoff and Joe Woodard will perform on Valentine’s Day at the Crush Bar & Tap, 1129 A State St., Santa Barbara. Their music varies from Beatles songs to jazz standards. For more information, go to crushbarsb. com.