Moving drama a portrait of flawed people

As part of the Black Curtain Theatre series, the Whitefish Theatre Company presents “Luna Gale,” written by Rebecca Gilman.

This captivating and moving drama will be performed on May 6 and 7 at 7:30 p.m. at the O’Shaughnessy Center in Whitefish.

A strong sense of humanity is what lies at the heart of “Luna Gale.” Caroline, a veteran social worker, thinks she has a typical case on her hands when she meets Peter and Karlie, two teenage drug addicts accused of neglecting their baby named Luna Gale. But when Caroline places their infant daughter in the care of Karlie’s mother, she sparks a family conflict that exposes a shadowy, secretive past—and forces her to make a risky decision with potentially disastrous consequences. Powerful and arresting, “Luna Gale” is an unforgettable tale of faith and forgiveness and, according to the Chicago Reader, “a compelling and compassionate portrait of flawed people making impossible choices.”

“There are thousands of success stories coming out of foster care and adoption service organizations in the United States,” says director Scott Plotkin. “As ‘Luna Gale’ alludes to, this is primarily due to dedicated social services staff that support children and parents in many challenging environments.”

“But the heart of the play remains an engrossing exploration of the tough choices welfare workers contend with daily,” Plotkin said. “Even though this play is set in Iowa, the dark side of those challenges can be found in any state — including our own community.”

Cast members include Patty Thiel as Caroline, Charlotte Mack as Karlie and Lourdes, Eli Brown as Peter, Mona Charles as Cindy, Scotty MacLaren as Pastor Jay, and Tony Hernandez as Cliff.

Viewers are reminded that as a Black Curtain production, there will minimal staging, no set or props, and actors will be reading from a script. There will be a short talk-back with the director, actors, and several social workers at the end of the show.

Tickets are $10 with general seating. Tickets are sold only at the door on the evenings of each show. The Box Office opens at 6:30 p.m. and is located at 1 Central Ave., Whitefish. For more information, call 862-5371.

This show is sponsored by Soroptomist International of Whitefish.