Cat on a Hot Tin Roof
ACT presents Tennessee Williams play in January
as Maggie the cat
As ACT (A Community Theatre) prepares to celebrate 30 years of producing high-quality community theatre in Prince Edward Island, it will present Tennessee Williams’ Cat on a Hot Tin Roof this January at The Guild in Charlottetown. Hailed as one of the greatest plays of the 20th century, this Pulitzer Prize-winning drama will be a fitting launch for ACT’s milestone anniversary season.
Set on a 1950s Southern plantation, Cat on a Hot Tin Roof follows the Pollitt family as they gather for Big Daddy’s birthday. Beneath the celebration, buried secrets and simmering tensions erupt, with Brick, a guilt-ridden ex-athlete, and Maggie, his determined wife, at the heart of the turmoil.
The cast includes Teresa Wright as Maggie, Adam Gauthier as Brick, Paul Whelan as Big Daddy, Barbara Rhodenhizer as Big Mama, Mike Mallaley as Gooper, Amanda Rae Donovan as Mae, Aidan Gallant as Rev. Tooker, and Terry Pratt as Dr. Baugh.
Director Paul Whelan, stage manager Wallena Higgins and co-producers Mike Mallaley and Colin Hood have been delighted with the evolution of the characters coming to life in rehearsals as the cast has embraced their challenging roles.
Whelan, a seasoned figure in Island theatre with a career spanning work in both professional and community productions, is excited to be taking on the role of director and actor in this production. While it is no small feat, it is the fulfillment of a lifelong dream.
“This play is a masterpiece, and I’ve long dreamed I could be part of a staging of this Tennessee Williams classic,” says Whelan. “Its exploration of complex relationships and human frailty is timeless, and our cast is certainly rising to the challenge with commitment and heart.”
Mallaley, who is also juggling many hats in this production as co-producer, assistant director and actor, brings extensive experience to the show, having been involved in over 50 stage and film productions.
“Rehearsals have been a joy, with the cast bringing unique perspectives and real talent to this complex show,” Mallaley says. “What better way to mark ACT’s 30th anniversary than with a timeless classic that explores themes as powerful today as they were when it was written?”
Performances will take place January 17–19 and 23–25, 2025, at The Guild in Charlottetown. Tickets are available at eventbrite.com/e/cat-on-a-hot-tin-roof-presented-by-act-tickets-1078190028399.