The Revolutionists opens in Whitefish

How the French Revolution was really won

Montana Living — Whitefish Theatre Company presents “The Revolutionists” as their third mainstage  production.

A witty, biting, hold-on-to-your-seats theatrical adventure, The Revolutionists runs at the O’Shaughnessy Center in Whitefish on Feb. 25-26 and March 3-5 at 7:30 p.m. and Feb. 27 at 4:00 p.m. A sneak preview performance will be Feb. 24 at 7:30 p.m.

This play has mature language and adult situations.

In this fresh and fast-paced comedy by award-winning playwright Lauren Gunderson, a quartet of women raise hell in Paris during the French Revolution. The Revolutionists are characters based in history that include playwright Olympe de Gouge, assassin Charlotte Corday, Haitian rebel Marianne Angelle, and the one-and-only Marie “Let Them Eat Cake” Antoinette who conspire to avoid losing their heads -- literally -- during the insanity of the Reign of Terror.

This bold and blisteringly funny play is about violence and legacy, art and activism, feminism and terrorism, compatriots and chosen sisters, and how we actually go about changing the world. 

“This play is something special”, says Director Kim Krueger. “The history is true, turbulent yet accessible, and the historically based characters are modern, smart, and sassy. Similar to “Hamilton”, the characters are fleshed out into real, fascinating, and hilarious people. While you are rooting for all of the characters to survive the Reign of Terror, these are also ladies you’d want to go to have a drink with.”  

“The Revolutionists” was inspired when Gunderson was visiting the Pantheon in Paris and heard a seldom-told story about a feminist playwright during the French Revolution. As she began exploring that period, Gunderson found “striking similarities to our time in America: ridiculous war, drowning national debt, vast divide between rich and poor, institutional racism, and the quest for women’s equality.” Gunderson adds, “But the play really turned into a grander story about stories - why we need to make art, what art does in times of crisis, how stories connect eras and philosophies across time.”

The production features Becky Rygg as Marie Antoinette, Joy James as Olympe de Gouges, Sami Milne as Charlotte Corday, and Sarina Hart as Marianne Angelle. Adds Krueger, “I must give a shout out to WTC Costumer Sarah Bell who has gone above and beyond on costumes, combining the beautiful creation of historical dresses with interesting modern details.”

Tickets are $20 for adults, $18 for seniors, and $10 for students with reserved seating. Tickets for the sneak preview performance on February 24 are $12 for adults and $10 for students with general seating and can only be purchased at the door on the night of that show. Tickets can be purchased at the Box Office at 1 Central Avenue in Whitefish or by calling 862-5371.

Box Office Hours are 11:00am to 3:00pm 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 Ann and Paul Jeremiassen and Soroptimist International of Whitefish.