After a brief respite, the winter theater season begins in earnest in the weeks ahead.

• Good Theater presents the Maine premiere of the recent Broadway success “Next Fall” beginning Jan. 25 and running through Feb. 19 at the St. Lawrence Arts Center, 76 Congress St., Portland.

The story revolves around Luke, who believes in God, and Adam, who believes in everything else. It portrays the ups and downs of an unlikely five-year relationship with humor and unflinching honesty while offering a funny portrait of modern romance and asking questions about commitment, love and faith.

The play stars Equity actors Rob Cameron, Moira Driscoll and Abbie Killeen alongside Joe Bearor, Matt Delamater and Tony Reilly. Brian P. Allen, Good Theater’s artistic director, directs.

Tickets are $15 to $25. For tickets and information, call 885-5883 or visit goodtheater.com. 

• The Public Theatre in Lewiston presents the New England premiere of “The Language Archive,” a whimsical comedy about love, marriage and miscommunication. It runs Jan. 27 to Feb. 5.

The comedy speaks volumes about the language of love. It tells the story of George, a brilliant linguist who is unable to find the right words to say to his wife. Meanwhile, at work, he’s also in danger of losing his chance to record the dying language of Elloway because its last two speakers — an elderly married couple — are in the midst of a fight, and they refuse to speak their native tongue until they resolve their argument.

Dawn McAndrews, the recently appointed artistic director at The Theater at Monmouth, will direct this production, which stars Equity actors James Hoban, Janet Mitchko, Tarah Flanagan, Andrea Gallo and Edward Furs.

Tickets cost $18 for adults and $5 for children. Call 782-3200 or visit thepublictheatre.org. 

• Heartwood Theater Company presents “As It Is in Heaven” by Arlene Hutton from Friday to Jan. 29 at Skidompha Library in Damariscotta.

Artistic director Griff Braley leads an ensemble of nine women who breathe life into an 1830s Kentucky Shaker community, which hums along in an orderly fashion until the arrival of young Fanny. She claims to see angels in the meadow, and suddenly all the young women receive these “spiritual gifts.” Doubt, jealousy, denial and acceptance follow.

Seating is limited, and reservations are a must. Call 563-1373 or email boxoffice@heartwoodtheater.org. Tickets cost $18 for adults and $12 for students. 

• Portland Stage Company resumes its season with “Trouble Is My Business,” an adaptation of Raymond Chandler short stories by James Glossman, who also directs the show. It opens Jan. 24 and runs through Feb. 19. The theater creates a 1930s atmosphere as the setting for Philip Marlowe, Los Angeles’ most famous private detective. This is a world premiere. Call 774-0465 or visit portlandstage.org.

— Bob Keyes, Staff Writer

 

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