Off-beat comedy hits stage May 8-9

The Whitefish Theatre Co. presents the wistful and off-beat comedy “Things Being What They Are” on May 8 and 9. This is the last show for the theater’s 2020-21 season.

There will be two ways to view the show on each night, including limited, socially-distant seating at 7:30 p.m. at the O’Shaughnessy Center in Whitefish and online in a pre-recorded version of the play. Online viewing can occur anytime on May 8 and 9.

The play begins with Bill moving into his new condo, anxiously waiting for his unfaithful wife and his furniture, when his nosy neighbor Jack appears at the door looking for some beer and sympathy. At first Jack appears to be a nightmare neighbor — intrusive, needy, boorish — but gradually Bill's perception of his new friend deepens. While Bill learns how Jack has managed to lose his wife's trust and his children's love, he also discovers that Jack is wrestling with circumstances that would challenge the best of us. In this charming and moving show, “Things Being What They Are” follows an unlikely bond between two regular guys as they debate the meaning of love, loss, masculinity, and the needs that bring people together and drive them apart.

“One feature that really intrigued me is that this is a play about two guys, but from the perspective of a well-produced veteran woman playwright,” says Director Gil Jordan. “Author Wendy MacLeod has said this about her play: ‘When we meet people we tend to categorize them, to judge them, to draw them in broad strokes. But what if, instead of judging them, we judged our own ability to perceive them?’”

“MacLeod's take on male interaction is both light-hearted and deeply revealing,” Jordan adds.

Cast members include Tony Nelson as Bill and Stuart Green as Jack. Viewers are reminded that as a Black Curtain production, there will be minimal staging, no set or props, and actors may reference their scripts in both the live and film versions. Viewers who attend the live performance are also reminded that masks are required at all times while inside the O’Shaughnessy Center, including during the performance.

Tickets are $12 for adults and $10 for students for all shows. Tickets can be purchased at the Box Office at 1 Central Avenue in Whitefish or by calling 862-5371. Box Office Hours are 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday through Friday and one hour before a performance. Individual tickets can also be purchased online at www.whitefishtheatreco.org.

When purchasing a ticket on the website, take care to click the correct ticket link to distinguish if you are attending the live performance or if you are watching the recorded version of the play from your own home. The live show begins at 7:30 p.m. on each night with doors opening at 7 p.m. To purchase an online ticket on WTC’s website, click ‘Rent Video’, which will navigate you to ShowTix4U.com who manages the online distribution of the show. As ticket sales are WTC’s main source of income, please purchase the correct number of tickets (or devices as it says on the ShowTix4U website) for those watching the show online. Once you purchase a ticket, a link will be sent to your email to watch the show anytime on May 8 and 9.

This show is sponsored by Meg Wolfe and Steve Lull and Bet and Doug Wise. The purchase of film equipment was made possible by a grant from the Goguen Family Foundation.