By Tim Moore/Thingamajig Theatre Company
Following a well-received opening weekend, “Bakersfield Mist” continues performances at the Pagosa Springs Center for the Arts, bringing audiences an intimate and thought-provoking theatrical experience centered on art, perception and personal truth.
Directed by Christina Norris and featuring performances by Karisa Bruin and Dennis Elkins, the play by Stephen Sachs is inspired by real events.
The story follows Maude, an unemployed bartender who believes a painting she purchased at a thrift store may be an undiscovered work by Jackson Pollock. When a professional art expert arrives to evaluate the piece, their encounter evolves into a layered conversation about artistic value, class differences, and the ways people seek validation and meaning.
Opening weekend audiences responded to the production’s balance of humor and emotional weight, as well as its ability to spark discussion beyond the stage. With only two actors and a single setting, the play relies heavily on performance and language, creating an up-close theatrical experience that highlights shifting power dynamics and unexpected moments of empathy between the characters.
As the run continues, “Bakersfield Mist” offers local theatergoers a chance to engage with a story that raises enduring questions about who defines art — and why those definitions matter.
Performances continue this weekend and run through March 14 at the Pagosa Springs Center for the Arts. Tickets are available at pagosacenter.org or by calling the box office at (970) 731-SHOW (7469).