By Ryan Elmore
Photo: Inside the rehearsal space at Holy Cross
“Banshee,” the new play written by Adam Richter and produced by Reading Theater Project (RTP), opens Friday, May 1 at the WCR Center for the Arts.
The play follows dual narratives. One of which takes place in 1798 and follows a young woman named Nancy as she grapples with faith and duty in a changing Ireland. In the present day, one of her descendants tries to understand his family history and the generational trauma embedded within it.
“I wanted to explore Irish mythology through a modern lens,” said playwright, Adam Richter. Richter has been thinking about “Banshee” since 2023, ever since he first wrote an early version of the story as a one-act play.
He was inspired to write about a Banshee, a bad omen in Irish folklore who heralds the death of a family member, after visiting Ireland and researching the folklore and history. In “Banshee,” he explores the ways tradition, folklore and an individual’s identity ripple across generations. In one scene we see Nancy’s descendent, Hugh, arguing with his partner. Some lines are spoken simultaneously by both Nancy and Hugh, emphasizing Nancy’s effect on her lineage centuries later.
The script has evolved since 2023. “I actually read the original play recently,” Richter said, “it’s funny to think about where this thing came from.” Richter credits early feedback from fellow playwrights as well as RTP’s support in helping him develop the script.
After the play was chosen to be a part of RTP’s season, a production team and actors helped Richter further unlock the story. Jody Reppert, the play’s director as well as Artistic Director for RTP, has been instrumental in bringing the story to life. In addition to making the play more cohesive, Reppert added music and dance sections that use traditional Irish arrangements. Richter said, “He always brings such vivid imagination and vision to the things he directs … The crazy thing about theatre is everyone brings ideas to the table. It’s such a joy to see their collaboration.”
For actors, the process has been both exciting and challenging. Richard Bradbury, who plays Father MacBride, a Catholic priest practicing in secret, said his process is about finding humanity in the playwright’s words. “Having the playwright in the room is very special. We want to honor what he wrote and it’s great to have him as a sounding board for when we have questions.”
The actors also needed to learn how to perform an Irish accent. This was especially stressful for Andrea Keck who plays Nancy. “I remember texting Jody a couple days before the first read-through and was like ‘do you want Irish accents for the read?’ He said not to worry about it. Then I got to the read-through and of course I was the only one not doing an Irish accent,” Keck said, laughing. She eventually learned the accent after dialect coach Julia Matthews came in to assist the performers.
This is not the first time Reading Theater Project has developed and premiered a new play. Last year, RTP collaborated with playwright DW Gregory on a Reading-based play called “Intimate Exposures,” also directed by Reppert. In November, they performed “Proud” by Judd Silverman for the first time in Berks County, a play about peacocks who escaped from the Philadelphia Zoo.
Richter appreciates RTP’s commitment to new work and the support he’s received. “Writing is a solitary act but playwrighting cannot exist in a vacuum. One of the great things about RTP has been the incredible level of support for artists – that means actors, dancers and singers but also writers. I don’t know that Banshee would be in this spot if not for RTP.”
Tickets available online at: Reading Theater Project – Creating Artistic Community.
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