We have the White Mountains to thank for giving us Will Rhys.

Rhys, a veteran New York actor, relocated to Maine more than three years ago, in part because of our proximity to the White Mountains. He and his wife, Nancy Kluck, are avid outdoors people. They like to bike, camp and kayak.

But mostly, they like to hike.

“We’re working on the 4,000-footers,” Rhys said. “Slowly.”

New Hampshire is home to 48 4,000-foot mountains. So far, Rhys and his wife have knocked off 14 of them.

Rhys makes his Portland debut this month in the American Irish Repertory Ensemble production of Brian Friel’s play “Faith Healer.” He plays Teddy, the faith healer’s manager. The show will be performed through Oct. 21 at the studio theater at Portland Stage Company.

Since coming to Maine, Rhys has performed around Portland, mostly at Monmouth and Freeport. “I am glad I finally get the chance to be in Portland,” he said. “It’s time for me to get to the theater capital of Maine.”

Rhys has an impressive background of Broadway and regional theater credits. Before moving to Bridgton, where his wife has roots, he lived in Connecticut near New York City, and worked regularly on Broadway (“The Changing Room,” “Jumpers”), Off-Broadway and Off-Off-Broadway.

Regionally, he has worked at the Cleveland Play House, the Guthrie in Minneapolis, Milwaukee Repertory and many others.

It was at Cleveland that Rhys first encountered “Faith Healer.” He wasn’t in the production, but was part of the company that produced it.

He fell in love with the play, particularly Friel’s gift for language.

“Brian Friel is such an extraordinary, literate playwright,” he said. “He is poetic, but not in an esoteric way. He knows how to use the vernacular. You listen to the characters, and they sound like they do exist. It does not sound like he is putting words in a character’s mouth.”

A drama, “Faith Healer” focuses on the traveling spirit man Frank Hardy, his wife and his Cockney manager. They travel across the British Isles attempting to cure the sick and suffering.

The play is divided into individual monologues — two by Frank and one each by his manager and wife, Grace. Each monologue tells a different interpretation of events over the past 20 years.

Directed by Daniel Burson, this production features AIRE founders Susan and Tony Reilly in addition to Rhys.

AIRE has a particular fondness for Friel plays. This is the company’s third Friel production, joining “Dancing at Lughnasa” and “Philadelphia, Here I Come!”

“Faith Healer” is challenging for the actors and audience alike.

“My character, Teddy, tends to put phrases and sentences together, connecting everything with ‘ands’ all the time,” Rhys said. “His mind is working at a rapid pace. He can’t put periods on anything. He just keeps going on.”

Audiences must pay close attention. Each monologue recounts similar events, but facts and interpretations change from story to story.

“It is not a play that is going to simply lay everything out for you,” Rhys said. “It is a play that appeals to people who like a little challenge and like a little mystery.”

Staff Writer Bob Keyes can be contacted at 791-6457 or:

bkeyes@pressherald.com

Twitter: pphbkeyes
 

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