When Peter Pan takes flight on the stage of the RCHS Auditorium, people will see an accomplished young actress, 18-year-old Mona Maclay, flying gracefully, leading the Lost Boys fearlessly, fighting Captain Hook cleverly. Mona is thrilled to play the iconic role of the boy who refused to grow up, and many people have told her she looks like Peter Pan, fresh-faced and sporting a pixie haircut. It is a role she relishes, though not one to which she has always aspired. Deep in her heart, she always wanted to be a princess.
Jordan Maclay, retired physics professor, and wife Mary, materials specialist at Allen Bradley, knew their only daughter had a vivid imagination and a penchant for acting. As a child, she enjoyed dressing up and playing in her own fantasy worlds. But Mona’s parents did not want her to be a “helpless princess.” They nurtured her creativity while encouraging her to stay grounded. The movies they allowed her to watch - Pocahontas, Mulan and The Lion King- had strong, capable female characters. Today Mona gratefully acknowledges that her parents’ efforts gave her a good foundation for self-confidence.
These early influences might explain the preponderance of Mona’s masculine roles. When Missoula Children’s Theater brought Robin Hood to town, Mona’s friend Jacob Storer encouraged her to try out. At auditions, actors were asked to show various emotions, including anger. Mona describes her effort as “absolutely psychotic,” winning her the role of Prince John.
In the Community Players production of West Side Story, Mona played her favorite role to date: Anybody’s, the street-wise girl who’d rather be a Jet gang member. West Side Story helped open the world of theater to Mona. She learned a lot from director Andrew Sharp, especially the importance of good blocking. Because of her role, she had to hang out with the Jets all summer, learning more than she wanted about teenage boys.
The boyish Anybody’s was good preparation for being The Kid in UW-Richland’s Lumberjacks in Love - a girl pretending to be a boy pretending to be a woman to attract a boy. At the same time they were in Lumberjacks, Mona and best friend Rosie Veith were performing Just Another High School Play at RCHS.
Mona explored her feminine side onstage at RCHS as the coquettish feather duster Babette in Beauty and the Beast and “ an actual woman “ in Rumors . As Little Red Riding Hood in Community Players’ Into the Woods, she worked on comic timing.
An accomplished dancer as well as a successful participant in forensics and solo/ensemble, Mona is preparing for what she hopes will be a career in theater. Just graduated from RCHS, Mona is one of ten students accepted into the UW-Stevens Point acting program each year. Fame is not a goal. Mona would simply like to be successful enough in theater to make a living in New York without waitressing forever.
Meanwhile, she is preparing to be the ultimate Boy by following director Andrew Sharp’s instructions to “watch boys” – how they walk, talk, carry themselves. Why is Peter traditionally played by a female? Why is it Mary Martin and Cathy Rigby, soaring above the Broadway stage, who have thrilled audiences? The simplest explanation is that since he refused to grow up, Peter Pan cannot have a deep voice or hair on his chest!
Someday Mona Maclay might play her dream role (Eliza Dolittle in My Fair Lady), or even be a princess, albeit a strong and self-confident one. Meanwhile, we all have the wonderful opportunity to see her bring Peter Pan to life.