Art and wellness workshop in Ventura

VENTURA — An art and wellness workshop for adults will meet from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday at the Vita Art Center, 28 W. Main St. Kathleen Kaller and Kimmy Braget are the instructors. The cost for the Ventura workshop is $98.

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Continued from Page B1 and there’s a potential for a relationship,” Mr. Giron said.

The question is whether Weller can put his failures behind him and look ahead.

Ms. Marden told the News-Press the challenges are similar for her character, Fonsia.

“She is seemingly shy and is a very religious woman who touts herself as a victim in her life,” Ms. Marden explained.

She said Fonsia must deal with the things in her life that have hurt her.

“Ken (the director) uses the word ‘leaks,’” Ms. Marden said. “Each of the characters begins to leak this other side of their personality. As the play goes on, they get more real and more honest in their frustration and grief.

“My character goes from being quiet, shy and very religious to expressing much anger and resentment,” she said.

When Ms. Marden isn’t acting on stage, she works as a psychotherapist who has helped older clients deal with their regrets.

She noted the importance of forgiving yourself and others. “My character does not do that, and she has a rough time of it.” But in-between the play’s intense scenes are sweet moments, Ms. Marden noted. “The characters have to be lovable. The audience

“We will use Reiki, sound and meditation to clear any energetic blocks that are stored in the chakras (body centers) and open ourselves up creatively,” Ms. Kaller said. “Using inspiration from this healing process, we will then play, express and create with collage work. Supplies and snacks are included. Please bring a yoga mat or pillow to sit on.”

Added Ms. Braget, “Reiki is an energy healing technique that promotes relaxation, reduces stress and anxiety through gentle touch. Reiki practitioners use their hands to deliver energy to your body, improving the flow and balance of your energy to support healing.

“Mikao Usui developed reiki in the early 1900s, deriving the term from the Japanese words rei, meaning ‘universal,’ and ki, which refers to the vital life force energy that flows through all living things.”

— Marilyn McMahon

together in plays with various theater groups.

“It’s wonderful to be cast with Kathy by design or happenstance,” Mr. Giron said.

Added Ms. Marden, “I really enjoy being with him. I think we have a real friendship and real respect for each other.”

And Mr. Giron called “The Gin Game” a “labor love” among the actors and the two directors. He said one of their goals is to get post-COVID audiences back into the theater.

“All the theaters in Santa Barbara — and not only in Santa Barbara but across the nation — are struggling to get people off their couches and back into the theaters,” said Ms. Marden, the president of the Center Stage Theater board. “This is an attempt to woo people back to the wonderful experience of live theater.” email: dmason@newspress.com

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“The Gin Game” will be performed at 7:30 p.m. Feb. 2-4 and during the 2 p.m. matinees on Feb. 4 and 5.

has to care about them and even hope they get together and have a relationship. “The author wrote in a lot of little moments when they connect over the game,” she said.

Mr. Giron said the characters’ relationship evolves through a series of ups and downs.

The two actors saw a previous production of “The Gin Game” last year at the Rubicon Theatre in Ventura and enjoyed watching movie/TV stars Joe Spano and JoBeth Williams play Weller and Fonsia.

Locally Ms. Marden and Mr. Giron have previously acted

Tickets cost $18 for general admission and $15 for students and seniors for the Feb. 2 preview show. After that, tickets cost $21 for general admission and $18 for students and seniors. To purchase, go to centerstagetheater.org. There is no late seating.