WTC show presents fourth mainstage show ‘Evelyn In Purgatory’

The Whitefish Theatre Company will present the dramatic comedy “Evelyn In Purgatory” as its fourth mainstage show of the 2022-2023 season. Called “’The Breakfast Club’ for teachers,” this clever and funny show opens with a sneak preview night on April 6 at 7:30 p.m. at the O’Shaughnessy Center in Whitefish. Performances continue on April 7 and 8 and on April 12, 13, 14, and 15 at 7:30 p.m. This show is being presented as cabaret theatre with both table and fixed seating available. All teachers who show a school ID will get special vouchers for drinks and snacks.

When a complaint is filed against one of the 70,000 teachers in New York’s public schools, they are sent to a Reassignment Center, an empty office in the Department of Education Building. They must wait for their case to be reviewed — usually for months, sometimes for over a year. A claim of improper behavior by a failing student lands Evelyn Reid in “the rubber room,” where she encounters a group of teachers, some guilty, some not, who have long since lost any hope of returning to a classroom. Over the course of the school year, these colleagues learn French, workshop a screenplay and ultimately form an unlikely alliance, reminding each other of forgotten passions, and emerging to face life outside in unexpected new directions. A poignant and funny drama, “Evelyn In Purgatory” is said to be “an uncommonly smart and restrained commentary on the public education system.”

“I was shocked when I discovered that not only is the premise of this show true, but much of the action of the play is taken from stories from actual teachers,” said Director Kim Krueger. “The cast and I dove down a huge rabbit hole to research this premise and ultimately create real, lovely, complicated, funny and sometimes scary characters, who all reside together in the ‘rubber room.’”

Krueger adds, “I think everyone will find something to talk about with this very funny, heartfelt script, complete with twists and turns.”

The cast is comprised of seven actors from around the Flathead Valley. Joy James plays Evelyn Reid, Andy Wilton plays Candace Metzger, Merannda Button plays Lila Wadkins, Dawn Watland plays Roberta Burke, Mikey Winn plays Toby Fleming, Malcolm Sharvutt plays Fred DiSalvo, and Laura Abernethy plays Ms. Atwood. Krueger says, “This is a wonderfully smart and witty cast with a mix of new and old faces.”

Tickets are $20 for adults, $18 for seniors, and $10 for students with reserved seating. Tickets for the sneak preview performance on April 6 are sold only at the door and are $12 for adults and $10 for students. 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. This show is sponsored by Harlow and Anthony Mead of Pure West Real Estate.