Albee’s challenging “Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?” comes to Whitefish
Published: February 24, 2009
Afraid of Virginia Woolf?" in March.
(Photo by Laira Fonner)
Whitefish Theatre Company presents Edward Albee’s Tony Award-winner “Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?” – described as “a serious drama about people who happen to be very funny” – March 6-8 and 13-15 at the O’Shaughnessy Center in Whitefish.
A 1962 Broadway hit became a major motion picture in 1966, with Richard Burton, Elizabeth Taylor, George Segal and Sandy Dennis.
”This has been the most challenging directing experience for me outside of Shakespeare,” says artistic director Nancy Nei. “There are no end to the discoveries about the play and its characters.”
In the play, middle-aged George, an associate history professor, and his wife, Martha, daughter of the university president, invite a young biology professor Nick and his wife, Honey, for after-party drinks. As the drinking continues, the foursome begins “Fun and Games,” playing games which ultimately reveal their false pretenses.
Anker Hanson, who plays George, is a Montana native who studied theatre at the University of Alaska before moving to Hollywood, where he worked in movies directed by Ron Howard, Henry Winkler and Francis Ford Coppola. Television roles include “General Hospital,” “Santa Barbara” and “Days of Our Lives.”
His wife, Helen Hanson, who also plays his wife, Martha, in the play, has film credits that include “The World According to Garp” and “Tootsie,” along with television roles in “L.A. Law,” “Matlock” and “Days of Our Lives.”
Brandon Johnson, who plays the young professor Nick, is a theatre graduate of the University of Montana. Elizabeth Cronin, who plays his wife, is also a UM theatre grad.
“We are incredibly lucky to have this cast, all trained and experienced actors,” says Nei. “It has made directing this very difficult play possible in a community theatre setting.”
Show times are 7:30 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays and 4 p.m. Sundays, March 6-15; tickets are $10-$14. Call 862-5371 to purchase tickets or order online at www.whitefishtheatreco.org.
