MAT brings 'Lieutenant of Inishmore' to Havre

"The Lieutenant of Inishmore," a dark comedy set in Ireland, has much renown inthe theater world.

Bethany Mason said she read the play in college and Montana Actors' Theatre's Jay Pyette gave her the opportunity to direct a production of it.

"It's a dark, dark comedy," Mason said. "It's kind of like BBC meets 'Reservoir Dogs.'"

She said that, though the play is fun, it's pretty bloody.

"Essentially, it's a farce," she said.

The play is about how far people will go to justify evil actions.

"The lengths people go to just to be cruel and do horrible things to each other," Mason said. "How absurd it is, how everybody justifies their actions. ... Sometimes we just have to laugh at the dark side of life."

Mason has directed three productions for MAT before, one play in Havre and two in Great Falls.

"The Lieutenant of Inishmore" is written by playwright Martin McDonagh and was first produced by the Royal Shakespeare Company in London in 2001.

The play is set in early 1990s Ireland, when peace was stepping forward in the country.

Tickets to the MAT production are $15 per person. Show dates are May 15 and 16, 21 to 23, and 28 to 30. The doors and backstage lounge, where one can find refreshments, open at 7:30 and showtime is at 8 p.m.