A personal play by Neil Simon is Wichita Community Theatre’s next production

One of America’s most prolific and popular playwrights, Neil Simon, wrote more than 30 plays in 52 years.

And “Jake’s Women,” which Wichita Community Theatre opens next week, is one of Simon’s most personal.

“This is a more sophisticated Neil Simon. It’s not ‘Barefoot in the Park,’” director Greg Dalton-White said. “It’s really him delving into his own psyche and examining why he lived the life that he lived and the way that he lived it.”

“Jake’s” is based on Simon’s own love life, including marrying actress Marsha Mason months after the death of his first wife, following a three-week romance. They remained married for 10 years.

The “Women” in the play are all from Jake’s life — his sister, analyst, daughter (at ages 12 and 21), late first wife and estranged second wife — many through his imagination.

“He brings people back in his mind. Actresses will appear on stage as figments of his imagination, but they’re real people in his life,” Dalton-White said. “Jake is a person struggling with his demons and trying to get them to all work so that he can have a real life. He’s kind of put himself into this imaginary writing world and he struggles being out in the real world with real people and having a real connection.”

Playing Jake is Mark Anderson, in his first on-stage role for Wichita Community Theatre in six years.

“The story that was happening to Jake and what he was going through was similar to what I had been going through when I found the show,” Anderson said.

“It’s really a simple story of a couple,” he added. “He probably writes too much and doesn’t allow himself to experience what’s really happening to him. He gets stuck in his mind a little bit.”

Although the six different women represented are sometimes in his imagination, Anderson said the play doesn’t confuse its audience.

“It’s very simple to follow, because Jake or the person he’s imagining will acknowledge in some way or another that that is what’s happening, that it’s not real and in Jake’s head,” he said.

Simon wrote “Jake’s Women” in 1990, and after recasting the role with Alan Alda, rewrote the entire script. It became a Hallmark Hall of Fame TV-movie in 1996.

Anderson said it was a challenge to be involved on stage through the entire production.

“In order to really do it I have to go where Jake is and fight the demons he’s fighting — the guilt we’re having and the reason we do the things we do,” Anderson said.

‘JAKE’S WOMEN’

When: April 21 to May 1; performances at 8 p.m. Thursdays-Saturdays, 2 p.m. Sundays

Where: Wichita Community Theatre, 258 N. Fountain

Tickets: $11 opening night; $15 adults and $13 for students, military and seniors; by calling 686-1282