Kalispell by Kim E. Ruyle

[Full-Length]
The insane dynamics and dysfunction of a western Montana logging family are laid bare over a Thanksgiving holiday. A volatile redneck patriarch, a doting matriarch, and five grown children are forced to confront their biases, and broken relationships with a series of crises that careen between tragic and hilarious.
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Kalispell

Recommended by

  • William Triplett:
    14 May. 2024
    “ This play has so many nice surprises in it. While the setting is familiar enough -- a holiday gathering of family members who could not be more different, with all the hopes and disappointments you might expect -- the story quickly takes unexpected turns, laying bare more disappointment and hurt than some characters even knew they had. There are lots of laughs along the way, but they sharpen the poignance of what's happening. Great roles for actors, simple to produce, and deeply heartfelt -- a winning combination! ”
  • Doug DeVita:
    26 Sep. 2021
    “ It’s interesting to read a play and then experience it in production. Nuances may be lost in a director’s interpretation while insight not caught on the page may be brought into focus. Such was my experience with this deeply moving family drama; while it’s fun being on the outside looking in, the Hamiltons are one group with whom you do not want to spend Thanksgiving. It’s Ruyle’s gift that he keeps all their machinations spinning seamlessly in short, nearly cinematic bursts of sometimes hilarious, sometimes heartbreaking dysfunction, on page and on stage. ”
  • Randall Huskinson:
    22 Nov. 2020
    “ Great characters in a situation that was immediately recognizable to me--a family that has vast differences, and plenty of secrets, while still really caring for each other, coming together at the "family home" for the holidays. A couple of really solid and funny auxiliary characters that flesh out a thoughtful and very funny script. I loved the mountain-town setting and could practically smell the food coming out of Ma's kitchen and the coffee at the Sit-A-Spell Cafe. ”

BUD HAMILTON: 70s, the family patriarch. Hard-working. Bigoted. Tough. Protective.
CORA HAMILTON: 70s, the family matriarch. Blindly loyal to Bud. Dotes on her children.
CLEVE HAMILTON: 40s-50s, oldest son. Alcoholic. Seeks approval of others but is a disappointment to everyone, especially Bud.
BRUCE HAMILTON: 40s-50s, 2nd son. Single, successful plastic surgeon living in Seattle. An articulate metro-sexual experiencing a mid-life crisis.
JEFFREY HAMILTON: 40s-50s, 3rd son. Successful fashion designer living in New York City. Like Bruce, a metro-sexual, but married with kids.
CLIFFORD HAMILTON: 40s-50s, 4th son. Former car salesman turned church pastor in Missoula and televangelist host of religious sportsmen’s show.
CLAIRE HAMILTON: 40s, daughter. Feminine but tough. Runs a construction company. Avid sportswoman. Occasional lounge singer.
DRAGOS IBANESCU: 30s, Romanian immigrant and proprietor of the Sit-a-Spell Cafe′.
TULLIA IBANESCU: 30s, wife and partner in café business with Dragos.
TIFFANY: 30s, attractive tart. Director of God, Geese, and Grizzlies.
DOUBLING: If desired, Tullia and Tiffany can be played by the same actor.

Production History

  • Professional
    ,
    Manhattan Repertory Theatre - Chain Theatre, NYC
    ,
    2021
  • Workshop
    ,
    1stsceneMidwestProductions - Staged Reading - Broom Street Theater - Madison, Wisconsin
    ,
    2019
  • Community Theater
    ,
    PLAYWRIGHTS WORKSHOP OF BREVARD - Surfside Playhouse - Cocoa Beach, Florida
    ,
    2018

Awards

Winner
,
Full-Length Play Competition
,
PLAYWRIGHTS WORKSHOP OF BREVARD
,
2018