Stumptown Players put on fast-paced thriller
<p class="p1">Clockwise from left, Rosemary Ward, Zachary Mahon, CrisMarie Campbell, Linda Grinde and Wayne McEntire star in Stumptown Players' production of "Private Eyes."</p>
Local theater company Stumptown Players returns to Kalispell this month with Steven Dietz’s thriller “Private Eyes.”
The Chicago Tribune praised “Private Eyes” in a recent review: “Dietz has created a romantic comedy in which what's real inevitably turns out to be an illusion. It's a play within a play within a play within a play within a psychiatrist's office — a Chinese box full of tricks and surprises."
The fast-paced comedy of suspicion in which nothing is ever quite what it seems is directed by Scarlett Schindler. The cast includes Wayne McEntire, Zach Mahon, Rosemary Ward, CrisMarie Campbell and Linda Grinde.
“I am consistently amazed at the talent that exists here in the valley,” Schindler said.
“These are people who go to work every day to a wide variety of jobs and who just happen to flavor their lives with a passion for the arts and performing. For whatever reason, they come together for a common purpose, pool their collective resources and create this beautiful end product, full of emotion and truth. It’s pretty profound.
“Dietz is a prolific playwright, and his works are widely produced in regional theaters around the country,” she added. “I think his work resonates with audiences because he has a knack for honest, believable dialogue.
“‘Private Eyes’ is about relationships, truth and lies — lies that we tell each other, but more importantly, the lies that we tell ourselves about who we are and what we desire. It sounds heavy, but Dietz manages to wrap these themes in a tightly wound ball of narrative that bounces around willy-nilly and leaves the audience wondering what’s real and what is imagined. It’s a laugh-out-loud thrill ride.”
Performances are at 8 p.m. Feb. 14-16 and 21-23 at the KM Theatre in the historic KM Building, 40 Second St. E. in Kalispell. Tickets are $15 each, and there is a special free preview on Feb. 13.
To purchase tickets, call 871-6447, email stumptownplayers@gmail.com or visit www.stumptownplayers.org.
Popular downtown Kalispell restaurant Hops is offering a special promotion in conjunction with Stumptown Players. Bring your “Private Eyes” ticket stub to the restaurant until Feb. 28 for a free glass of sparkling wine, a craft beer or a soft drink with your dinner purchase. Your ticket stub also enters you into a drawing for a $50 Hops gift certificate
"We're thrilled that Stumptown Players is bringing live theater back to downtown Kalispell,” said Vonnie Day, who co-owns Hops with her husband, Doug Day. “Don't miss this well-crafted comedy. It will make you laugh out loud.”
Hops isn’t the only restaurant offering special deals for theatergoers. Famous Dave’s is offering one free appetizer with the purchase of an entrée Feb. 15-18 and Feb. 22-25 to theatergoers who bring in a receipt from “Private Eyes.”