Anyone who has been in a book club before knows they can be a brilliant opportunity to bond with friends, both old and new, over a shared love of the written word. And they can also be ground zero for all kinds of interpersonal messiness.
In the Arvada Center’s production of Karen Zacarías’ laugh-out-loud “The Book Club Play,” one group becomes the subject of a documentary film maker, resulting in all kinds of hilarity as the members let the camera into their lives.
“I love books. And I find book clubs fascinating,” wrote Kate Gleason, who plays several pundits in the show, in an email interview. “I like how book clubs are a chance for very different characters to come together in a shared experience. I was challenged and excited to play several wildly different characters with one common thread — books.”
“The Book Club Play” runs at the Center, 6901 Wadsworth Blvd., through May 18. Directed by Lynne Collins as part of the Black Box Theatre repertory season, performances are at 7:30 p.m. on Thursdays through Saturdays, 1 p.m. on Wednesdays and 2 p.m. on Sundays.
Gathering with others who share a love of books is a tried-and-true setting for all kinds of stories, and there’s a good reason for this — in book clubs, members have a tendency to really let their hair down and cut loose. Not only does this make for a very dynamic energy between characters, but it can be a vehicle to explore how we connect with each other.
“It’s about the relationships we have with our friends, family, and ourselves, all centered around great, or not so great, books,” Gleason wrote. “The ability to agree or disagree is all part of the fun.”
Stories involving book clubs provide opportunities to explore all kinds of culture: classic highbrow novels and the authors who write them, as well as trashy books that provide an opportunity to get together and complain with friends. With that kind of range, audiences who see “The Book Club Play” can expect laughs and literary references galore.
“Creating family and community are all part of our shared human experience. In all its glory and messiness,” Gleason wrote. “And books can connect or disconnect us from each other. Let the hilarity ensue.”
For more information and tickets, visit https://arvadacenter.org/events/the-book-club-play .
History Colorado takes travelers on a tour of Arvada
No matter where you live, there’s always an opportunity to learn a little more about your town or city. That’s the ethos behind History Colorado’s Tours and Treks adventure series — a series that goes back more than 50 years.
As part of this year’s lineup, History Colorado is hosting a Historic Arvada Walking Tour from 10 a.m. to noon on Saturday, April 15. According to provided information, the tour will provide a look at “historic buildings, tales of champions of religious and racial tolerance, and delicious spots to stop for snacks.”
All the details for the tour can be found at www.historycolorado.org/tours-and-treks.
Broomfield Symphony celebrates Buster Keaton
You’d be forgiven for believing that the work of silent film star Buster Keaton has very little to recommend it in the modern cinematic landscape. But upon closer inspection, his fingerprints are everywhere — a recent example is the ballet of violence that is “John Wick 4.”
To learn a little more about Keaton and what makes him such a special performer, check out the Broomfield Symphony’s presentation of two films, “One Week” and “Sherlock Jr.” The screening will be held at the Broomfield Auditorium, 3 Community Park Road, at 7:30 p.m. on Saturday, April 8. The symphony will be performing music from Rodney Sauer to accompany the films.
Buy tickets at https://broomfieldsymphony.org.
Clarke’s Concert of the Week — Snail Mail at the Fox Theatre
Lindsey Jordan, who records under the name Snail Mail, makes the kind of indie rock that fans of the genre’s early days in the 1990s will immediately recognize. While there are certainly familiar elements to Snail Mail’s music, she’s uses a razor-sharp pen to artfully delve into themes of loneliness, identity and human connection.
Snail Mail will be stopping by Boulder’s Fox Theatre, 1135 13th St., at 8:30 p.m. on April 11. She’ll be joined by Water From Your Eyes and Dazy, both bands that represent exciting new talents that add a lot to indie rock. Get tickets at www.axs.com.
Clarke Reader’s column on culture appears on a weekly basis. He can be reached at Clarke.Reader@hotmail.com.
