Montana Art Theatre holds auditions for play that questions social issues
The Montana Art Theatre is launching auditions for its second production that will be an adaptation of the Irish classic, “The Playboy of the Western World” which dates back to the early 1900s.
Local Whitefish artists as part of Montana Art Theatre, or M.A.T., are working together to create the new adaptation of the play that they hope will make the audience question a variety of social issues facing the world and northwest Montana today.
In Montana Art Theatre’s initial attempt at auditions in late February, M.A.T. Director Nick Rapp met Whitefish resident Leanette Galaz which then inspired him to work with her on forming the modern adaptation of the play. Galaz had no prior acting experience but simply came to the auditions because she related to the main themes in the play.
Rapp’s plan is to alter the play so it’s set in northwest Montana and looks closely at issues that face the community here such as the increase of wealthy people moving to the valley and how it might be amplifying economic inequality. Galaz feels passionate about the gap between the rich and poor as well as other issues that can be woven into the play, so she came on board to co-write the adaptation.
The new adaption will be inspired by Galaz’s own life experiences through discovering her native Mexican heritage, her path through a divorce, and finding herself again on the other side of it. The play will aim to make the audience question present-day issues such as economic class division, racial injustice, gender equality and sexual identity, as well as many others.
Although the production will tackle topics that can be uncomfortable to discuss, both Rapp and Galaz believe the play will create a healing space to allow the community to safely discuss prevalent issues.
“One thing I think is really wonderful about this project… it’s about creating this space for the community where we can hear from each other,” Galaz said. “That will come in the process of writing it because it can be fluid and incorporate people’s perspectives. It’s meant to bring the community together.”
The original version of “The Playboy of the Western World” features the character Christy Mahon who escapes his living situation to a small town in the Aran Islands of Ireland. He believes he’s killed his father and tells the story to his new community. The people celebrate his supposed act of heroism as it likely symbolizes the death of the patriarchy, or Zeus versus Cronus, according to Rapp.
Turns out the father is not dead and he comes looking for his son. The town feels hoodwinked, so they begin to turn on him. Christy kills his father for the second time, and now the act is looked at as a dirty deed rather than an act of heroism by the community.
“We get from [playwright JM Synge] is the fickle nature of public opinion,” Rapp explains. “We have these values, but when our comfort within our routine life is challenged, that is the rubber meeting the road. They’re faced with a decision between their comfort and their values…”
Before meeting Galaz, Rapp wasn’t totally sure how to adapt the play. He wanted to adapt it to be set in Montana, and also knew that class division was important. The pair is still in the process of writing the adaptation, but know it will follow the narrative structure already in place in the original play. According to M.A.T. producers, the main character will now be a woman named Christina who decides to leave her husband after discovering her heritage and in turn desiring more out of life. Her husband blocks her from leaving and she pushes him out of the way, believing that she’s killed him. She takes safe harbor in Whitefish and the community is thrilled to take her in as they desire a more diverse culture.
Later on the husband comes back and the community sides with the nice, caucasian man who has the means to provide for her.
Rapp explains in the adaptation, “Instead of wanting revolution, they believe in inclusivity, equity, diversity, racial justice, fairness to all people, that everybody should be able to afford to live here…”
Galaz adds that the adaptation looks to make the audience question whether or not they really want a diverse community and if they are willing to work to create it.
“Do you just like the idea of this, or do you really want to do the hard work it takes to have a community of people of mixed economic classes living together — that’s hard,” she says.
M.A.T. is hoping to hear from some more people in the community as they continue devising this adaptation and will hold auditions this weekend. No experience is necessary.
The auditions for this production will occur Friday, April 8 at 7:30 p.m. and also Sunday, April 10 at 11 a.m. The Montana Art Theatre auditions and rehearsals for this production will both be held at 6475 Hwy 93 South Whitefish, MT 59937, the location of the old movie theatre. They are looking to have a flexible rehearsal schedule as they believe five days a week may be too much for some people like parents or working folks.
Rapp serves as the artistic director and Caitlyn Goeman the executive director for M.A.T. Galaz will be the co-producer working with Rapp to write the adaptation for this production. The company was founded in May 2021 with the goal of providing new opportunities for creative and inclusive community participation.