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‘The Complete Works of Jane Austen, Abridged’

“The Complete Works of Jane Austen, Abridged” will be staged at various times and dates through Aug. 23, at Theater at Monmouth, 796 Main St. in Monmouth.

Tickets cost $18-$43; theateratmonmouth.org.

The play is a funny, fast-paced frolic through the masterpieces of Jane Austen. Three actors take on all of Austen’s beloved heroines, friends, and love interests — and her incisive social satire — in just 80 minutes.

But when they lose a cast member, the two remaining Janeites must teach an understudy about her work. It is a truth universally acknowledged that an audience in possession of high spirits must be in want of a ticket to this big-hearted comedy that will delight Austen fans and newcomers alike.

Justin Mayberry of Smokey’s Greater Shows supports a canopy while setting up the ring-a-bottle game Aug. 5 on the midway of the Skowhegan State Fair in Skowhegan. (Rich Abrahamson/Staff Photographer)

Skowhegan State Fair

The Skowhegan State Fair runs through Saturday at the fairgrounds off U.S. Route 201 in Skowhegan.

The 10-day event features performances, competitions, livestock, exhibits, eats and more. Highlights include demolition derbies, truck pulls, harness racing, children’s park, nightly bands, exhibitions halls, livestock shows and pulling.

Gates open daily at 7 a.m., the halls will be open noon-10 p.m. and the midway, food vendors and concessions open at 1 p.m.

Gate admission Thursday and Tuesday will cost $1, other days vary from $10 to $15, and is free for children 10 and younger. Smokey’s Greater Shows daily ride bracelets range from $18-$30.

For more information or a complete schedule of events, visit skowheganstatefair.com.

‘The Gentleman Clothier’

(Courtesy photo)

“The Gentleman Clothier” will be staged at various times through Aug. 23 at Lakewood Theater, 76 Theater Road in Madison.

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Performances are planned for 7:30 p.m. Thursday through Saturday and Aug. 20-23, 4 p.m. Aug. 17, and 2 p.m. Aug. 20.

Tickets cost $28-$34; lakewoodtheater.org or 207-474-7176.

Experienced Tailor Norman Davenport has barely opened the doors to his new clothing store in downtown Halifax when Sophie, an exuberant young woman, barges in looking for work, followed by Patrick, a single father who claims to be handy. Hesitantly Norman hires them both to tie up the last few threads before the grand opening. And whether Norman realizes it or not, he needs help getting into the 21st century to cater to the current tastes of his customers. When the shop’s first customer, Alisha Sparrow, a friendly, attractive woman drops in looking for a suit for her husband, Norman is smitten against his better judgment. His sensible, modest world has become profoundly complicated in less than a week, and Norman longs to live in a simpler time. Unfortunately for him, his life is about to get messier as he wakes to find things are not what they used to be.

Starring Henry Quintal, Kelsey Pomelow-Book, Shana Page and Douglas Graham.

J.A.R.D.

Johnson Hall Free Waterfront Concerts will feature J.A.R.D. at 6 p.m. Friday at the Gardiner Landing in Waterfront Park 33 Maine Ave. in Gardiner.

The band performs indie alternative music with high energy. The event offers food vendors, children’s activities and more.

For more information visit johnsonhall.org.

Augusta Symphony Soirée

The Augusta Symphony Soirée is set for 7 p.m. Friday at the University of Maine at Augusta, 46 University Drive in Augusta. 

The free event will showcase players in the orchestra as chamber ensembles under the direction of Maestro Jinwook Park, an inspired violinist, who will lead the final piece — a mixed winds and strings nonet by French composer Louise Farrenc.

The ASO is committed to offering its concerts free of charge to remove any financial barriers for community members. We operate on a shoestring budget supported by player dues, community donations, and occasional small grants and sponsorships.
For more information visit augustasymphonymaine.org.

Chelsea’s 175th Birthday Celebration

Chelsea officials plan to celebrate the town’s 175th Birthday Celebration from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday at the fields by the town office, 560 Togus Road in Chelsea.

There will be bounce houses, an ice cream truck, balloon twister, toll road fundraiser for the school food bank, a dunk tank, petting zoo, touch a truck event, vendors, live bands, a chicken barbecue (limited to 200 meals) and more.

Tickets for the barbecue will cost $10 each and include chicken, corn on the cob, coleslaw, potato salad, roll, a birthday cupcake and a water. Tickets are available at the town office and the day of the event if not sold out.

Also, items from the 150th birthday celebration time capsule will be on display and organizers will be collecting items to place in another time capsule to be opened at the 200th birthday.

Coburn Park concert series

The next Concerts in the Park event at Coburn Park will feature Country Comfort at 5 p.m. Sunday.

The free concerts are held every Sunday through Aug. 31 at the park on U.S. Route 2 in Skowhegan.

The Maine band is known for their classic rock, country gold, hard rock, Motown, and other music spanning the 20th century.

For more information, call Tom Hamilton at 207-399-2325 or visit wesarts.org.

Oosoola Park music series

The Song Pirates is set to perform in the Oosoola Park Music Series at 5 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 19, at the park on Ferry Road in Norridgewock.

The free event also will feature a local food and ice cream truck.

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