“The Wolves” prowling at the Black Box

For the next two weekends only, The MSU School of Film & Photography presents “The Wolves” by Sarah DeLappe. This exciting new play, the likes of which Bozeman has never seen, is about a highschool girls soccer team. It’s an experimental play that challenges the audience in unexpected ways, mixing intense drama and wickedly dark comedy.

Junior Galen Harte plays the team’s goalie, Double Zero. She had never acted before this production, so what drew Harte into “The Wolves”? “It sounded interesting, but I also knew that Tom would be directing it.” Students of MSU’s School of Film and Photography know Tom Watson as a professor with great affinity for all things theatrical, which makes it no surprise that he has led the actresses and stage crew to great dramatic victory. “He is an amazing director” said Harte. Audiences will not be able to deny this once they witness the play in all its complex, challenging glory.

The scenes in “The Wolves” are a series of vignettes of the teammates’ interactions before every game in their soccer season, each snapshot adding a little piece to the narrative. The teammates discuss topics ranging from secret ski trips to genocide, and each conversation illuminates a new aspect of the intense rivalries and budding friendships amongst the characters. With subject matter that is both lofty and trivial, juxtaposition of emotion dominates the play. The audience will bounce between having to fight back tears and questioning themselves as they bust out laughing at the darkest of comedy.

To Harte, this emotional roller coaster is just like real life. “No one is just serious or just comedic. People have multiple facets to them, and this play captures that realism” Harte said. Just as deftly, “The Wolves” also tackles the trials of teenage girlhood, without pandering or condescending to the audience. “It just shows it how it is,” said Harte. “It highlights every issue that young girls are going through but without punching you in the face with them.”

Just in case you didn’t think “The Wolves” was intricate enough, the play’s unique style brings the audience in on the balancing act by requiring unerring attention. You must pay close attention to multiple subtle hints at once so as not to miss a thing. Players intentionally talk over each other throughout the play, making the role of the audience an exercise, one that ends up being deeply rewarding.

“The Wolves” is a great play. Everyone should go watch it, except young children due to sensitive content, to enjoy. For those looking for a unique and exciting theatrical experience, the show is at the Black Box Theatre at 7:30 pm April 13th, 14th, 20th, and 21st.