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Fortunately, Paperwing’s production will give people the opportunity to experience Nabokov’s story, themes and gorgeous language firsthand. The script was adapted from the book by the author himself.

As for the title character, Lolita will be played by 21-year-old CSUMB student Heather Winterhalter. “She looks 14, but we’re trying to play her down even further,” McBride says.

In the book, Humbert Humbert first meets Lolita when she’s 12.

McBride says they had some trouble finding an actor willing to take on the role of Lolita. Two of the three women who auditioned walked away when they discovered there would be nudity. Fortunately, they found the ideal candidate in Winterhalter.

“Heather really stepped up,” McBride says. “In fact, she had written a paper on nudity on stage for school.”

Although there is some nudity and language in the production, McBride says they tried to keep it “non-gratuitous.”

“If you’re coming to be titillated, if you’re looking for lust or pornography, don’t come. It’s not what it’s about,” McBride says. “It’s a love story.”

LOLITA opens Thursday at 7pm and continues with 8pm performances on Friday and Saturday and a 2pm matinee on Sunday through May 7 at the Fox Theatre, 243 Main St., Salinas. $17/adults; $15/seniors, students and teachers. For more info call 675-0521 or visit paperwingtheatreco.com.