Two decades ago, “Good Will Hunting” earned critical acclaim, box office success, an Academy Award for Robin Williams and another for its young writers, Matt Damon and Ben Affleck, who took Hollywood by storm with their story of an MIT janitor finding himself and embracing his genius.
Clear Theater Collective’s latest production, “Matt and Ben,” imagines what the screenwriting process might have looked like as two Bostonians in their early 20s with little experience or connection to the film industry created what would become a breakout hit. Free performances run Aug. 8-9 at Williamsburg Regional Library.
“People really didn’t believe they wrote the script. I have wondered that,” said Rachel Marrs, who plays Affleck. “It’s very funny. It’s completely ridiculous. But I also think there are very nice moments.”
Mindy Kaling and Brenda Withers published “Matt and Ben” as a book in 2003, using it as an opportunity to explore themes of friendship, collaboration, show business, masculinity and more through humor. The play version typically casts women in the lead roles, a trend Clear Theater continues.
The story imagines Damon and Affleck as young, struggling screenwriters, but it adds an element of fantasy.
As the duo are trying to adapt “Catcher in the Rye” into screenplay form — simply because it’s a classic novel they think will win awards — a script magically plops into their living room and their lives. The cover says it’s something called “Good Will Hunting,” with Damon and Affleck inexplicably credited as the writers.
Clear Theater didn’t change anything from the original version, and director Madison Landis didn’t see a reason to do so.
“In 2003, it turned everything on its head,” she said. “Somehow, it is still very relevant, I think even more so now.”
Landis said the story’s examination of male privilege complements the continued impact of the #metoo movement. It also capitalizes on the slang of the era — such as using “gay” as a synonym for “bad” — to highlight the characters’ inherent lack of awareness.
Although the play reflects on society’s ongoing problems, it also explores the pair’s relationship with one another as it evolves through the strenuous collaborative creative process. The frequent butting of heads is contrasted with moments of genuine love.
“The heart of it is, it’s about their friendship,” Landis said.
With limited resources, the group relies on Indiegogo campaigns for funding, surpassing its target of $500 for “Matt and Ben.” It’s a volunteer, low-budget initiative; Landis said it’s about making art just the way they want.
“We don’t want to wait for anyone else to let us,” she said.
The set is simple, mixing reworked props from previous shows and with new ones, such as a mid-’90s computer.
Clear Theater’s young artists are also a tight-knit group of friends, to the point where Landis knew who she wanted to cast in the roles and didn’t hold auditions. Emily Berry’s more introspective role as Damon plays off a more testosterone-fueled mindset of Marrs’ Affleck for both humor and drama.
“We knew we wanted to work with them. Both of them are hilarious characters in and of themselves,” Landis said. “They just pick things up so quickly.”
“Matt and Ben” marks Clear Theater’s third annual play, following “Oleanna” in 2017 and “The Odd Couple” the year prior.
Clear Theater’s founder and producer, John-Michael Jalonen, said the group continues to grow each year as they meet new people with the same passion for storytelling. He hopes to expand to two shows per year in the future, but only as long as the organization can remain community-minded.
“The goal is always to get to the next show,” Jalonen said. “It’s about what are our resources available. If we can’t do it for free, we don’t want to do it.”
Want to go?
“Matt and Ben” runs 7 p.m. Aug. 8-9 at Williamsburg Regional Library. Admission is free.
