Efforts to save brothel prompt fundraising play

By Erin Nicholes, of The Montana Standard - 04/28/2007

ANACONDA — When Susan Roberts decided to join efforts to save Butte’s downtrodden Dumas Brothel, she tapped history and creativity for ideas.

In no time, she came up with a fundraiser true to the 117-year-old brothel’s roots: prostitutes.

“It just suddenly hit me: I could write a play about women talking about their experiences” as prostitutes, said Roberts, an Anaconda writer who penned “Scarlet Ribbons,” slated for production at Butte’s Covellite Theater in early June.

The play features monologues from six fictional prostitutes — Maddy, Morgan, Sarah, Ruby, Bonnie and Babette — who range in age from 19 to 50 and ended up in the business from a variety of circumstances. (See sidebar for audition information).

“This play is not about sex; it’s about these women’s lives,” Roberts said. “It’s not ever going to be a brothel again, but it’s this incredible part of history.” The play’s proceeds will go to Citizens for Preservation and Revitalization, a nonprofit group preparing to replace the brothel’s roof —n the first of many needed improvements.

“We’d be thrilled to accept the donations and make sure they go 100 percent towards the project,” Larry Smith, CPR’s board president, said Thursday after learning of Roberts’ plans Thursday.

The Dumas closed in 1982 and has since been a museum and icon for Butte’s once busy red-light district. Current owner Rudy Giecek bought the Dumas 17 years ago, but closed it in spring 2005 because of safety concerns, and his own health problems.

CPR has been raising money for a roof replacement and related structural improvements in hopes the brothel can open again as a museum, Smith said.

After hearing about the group’s efforts this winter, Roberts opted to get involved and turned to her writing experience.

Originally from the Hi-Line, Roberts moved to Anaconda in 2004 after working as a newspaper editor in Philipsburg. In addition to newspaper writing, Roberts’ fiction has been published in regional magazines and her plays have been produced at the Philipsburg Opera House. Also, she received a fellowship from the Montana Committee for the Humanities to write a book about letters written by Philipsburg miners from South Africa.

Her newest project is a challenge, she said, and it’s not just about bricks and mortar.

“Scarlet Ribbons” is intended to highlight a period of American history during which unmarried women faced few opportunities and often turned to prostitution out of desperation.

“During that period, women couldn’t own anything,” she said. “They couldn’t vote. If women were in a precarious situation, they couldn’t go out and get a job like you or I would. These women did what they felt they had to, not what they wanted to.” The play is scheduled to run June 7, 8 and 9 at the Covellite.

Erin Nicholes may be reached at erin.nicholes@mtstandard.com.