Tap Your Troubles Away

 

JOURNAL

Tap Your Troubles Away

Bill Barksdale, Columnist

One of the interesting parts of my job has been all the fascinating people I’ve met over the years.  Hearing their stories, getting to know them and often becoming friends.  Willits is a town where people come from all over the place, often winding up here seemingly by accident, often coming to love the place.

One of the very interesting people I’ve become friends with over the years is Maria Monti.  I first met Maria when she played the mother of a blind son in Leonard Gershe’s romantic comedy Butterflies Are Free at Willits Community Theatre, directed by Joe Dowling.  I wasn’t sure how this story could be funny.  Alexis Silva-Doyle began her romance with Billy Heatherington.  Both bouncing off each other as good actors do.  Alexis was so funny I would laugh for years every time I remembered her performance. 

Things really ramped up when the young blind boy’s overprotective mother entered like a hurricane.  That was Maria!  She blew me away.  What a presence on stage.  Powerful, bossy, over-the-top.  The perfect foil to drive this young couple crazy.  ‘I’ve got to get to know this woman’, I thought to myself.  I love a great comedic actor. We’ve since become friends and have done a couple of shows together.

Maria grew up in Philadelphia, PA.  She began tap dancing at the age of four.  “I could pick it up fast.  I loved it and knew I could do it.” It became a passion and she’s still at it today.  In fact she’ll be teaching a tap class through Mendocino College right here in Willits beginning August 26^th, Saturdays 10a – 1p at Willits Charter High School.  The class is called Dance For The Musical Theater.  If you’ve ever wanted to tap, and who hasn’t, here’s your chance.  Register through Mendocino College.

When Maria graduated from high school she immediately joined the Navy in 1976, for four years.  In those days women were not allowed on the ships so she was a land-lubber where she was trained as a communications technicians receiver – with a Top Secret clearance.  That paid for her college. 

She moved to Napa, got married, attended Sonoma State, got divorced and earned her credential in English.  She wanted to teach theater but there was no “theater” degree to be had in California.  Theater teachers have to be credentialed in “English”.  Strange since theater and movies is one our State’s biggest employers – go figure. 

I asked her why she wanted to become a teacher.  “When I was a kid we played school and I was always the teacher.  I fell into teaching by accident.  But it was from playing school as a child.” 

In Napa Maria began to teach tap and jazz dance at Pam Rogers Academy of Danse (with an S), beginning with children and gradually including adults.  Upon getting her teaching degree it was time to find a more reliable job.  She saw an ad for an English/Drama teacher at Ukiah High in 1996.  That got her to Mendocino County.  She taught all aspects of theater.

Maria says she loved the mix of students in her classes – jocks, disabled kids, popular and not so popular kids.  “The kids supported each other” no matter their status.  “I loved that aspect of teaching theater” she told me.  She still gets contacted by former students thanking her for helping them learn to crawl out of their shells and into life, learning self-confidence, speaking in front of others, working with others successfully.  Skills that help people succeed in almost any career.  That’s the power of theater.

Some years ago I directed Tennessee Williams’ masterpiece, Cat On A Hot Tin Roof, for Willits Shakespeare Theater. Maria was the perfect Big Mama, a strong character, a rock who had to know how to stand her ground with her overbearing husband, Big Daddy, and yet still be vulnerable.  A challenging character to play. It was a fascinating project.  Williams’ women are each exquisitely created works of art.   The actor has to really know her stuff.

Maria lives here in Willits/Brooktrails.  When asked how she ended up here in Willits she told me “I couldn’t afford Ukiah then found Willits much more affordable”.  Like many people who have ended up here in Willits, Maria brought her unique set of skills that contribute to the richness of our community. 

Currently she is directing Neil Simon’s beloved play The Odd Couple (the hysterically funny women’s version) scheduled to open September 15^th at Willits Community Theatre.  Look for it and don’t miss it.  Tickets will be on sale soon at https://www.wctperformingartscenter.org/   or call 707-459-0895.  37 W. Van Lane behind the Van Hotel. 

When asked why she chose this play she told me “It’s just a funny show.  If you want a good laugh this is the show.”  I could certainly use some laughter so I’ll be there for sure.  “I love Neil Simon.  I love his humor, the sarcasm.  His humor is more sophisticated.  He takes opposite personalities and puts them together - a slob and a neat-freak.  Their friendship grows from their differences.  It’s about dealing with friendship, the good and the challenging.  These people might drive you crazy but they would give you the shirts off their backs.”

I asked her what she likes about making live theater.  “Working with actors, crew, and designers – it’s collaborative.”  She loves the ideas, coming together, all working toward a final creation.  “I just love the process.”

“People grow with each experience.  Being directed (by a good director) is like an acting class.  Cast and crew grow and learn a lot about the craft.  They feel more confident and proud about what they’re producing.”  “You’re learning life skills with anything you do in theater, how to speak and use words.  You come out into the world and communicate, be on time.  You learn how to read people – their behavior, how to talk in front of people.”

“I’m finding that being retired I can be ‘doing it’.  Theater and drama are my hobbies and life.  I want to direct

more.  I loved working with teenagers.  They kept me young.  Now I want to work with adults too.  There’s no pressure of ‘a job’ now. 

Maria Monti is one of those people who has made my life more interesting, happier, and yes - richer.