The University of Southern Maine Department of Theatre invites patrons to celebrate life through the eyes of small-town Americana in Thornton Wilder’s “Our Town.”

Set in Grover’s Corners, New Hampshire, in 1901, the play provides an idyllic view of the cycle of life, stripped bare of the distractions and trappings of the 21st century. Wilder’s simplified take on life, marriage and death forces modern-day viewers to focus on the artfulness of everyday life, and appreciate the preciousness of life’s transient nature.

Under the direction of guest director Andrew Harris, USM’s cast delivers a rendition of “Our Town” that is both visually and mentally engaging, even before the first act officially begins. A lone light bulb beckons to the audience from the center of a bare-bones stage, containing a seemingly random collection of chairs, tables and ladders. Three oversized sepia-tone pictures hang from the back brick wall, providing an eye-catching view of early 19th-century life. And, as with life, the projected images are ever-changing throughout the play, stirring the audience’s imagination.

The house lights were still up Friday when the cast – dressed in striking period clothing – began milling around the stage, providing an intriguing juxtaposition between the hustle and bustle of their characters’ lives and those of the assembling audience members, who chatted about their own lives from their seats in front of the stage. The actors pantomimed their daily activities, allowing viewers to visualize their unseen world. Then all activity ceased, frozen in time like a still photograph, as the play was about to officially begin.

The three-act play provides a play-within-a-play re-enactment of life in a quintessential New Hampshire town. The Stage Manager, played by Molana Oei, addresses the audience directly, providing insight while directing the action on stage. As Act One opens, she describes the town in detail, painting a mental image that gives life to the town and its people.

Oei shines, offering just the right combination of idyllic enthusiasm and sage cynicism. Her character has an omnipotent quality as she manipulates the events, starting and stopping action and reversing time. But even her character loses track, showing how deceptive the passage of time can be.

The 20-member cast brings the town to life, highlighting the varied people that make up a community. Collin Young and Brittany Burke serve as the focal point of the story as George Gibbs and Emily Webb. The play follows their lives from childhood sweethearts to Emily’s untimely death, imparting heartfelt lessons along the way. And the personified tombstones in Act Three provide a clever take on death.

Young and Burke are well cast, capturing the emotions of their characters as they journey through their fleeting lives together.

Other cast standouts include Bobby A. Dall and Courtney Pomerleau as George’s parents and Ben Davis and Savannah Irish as Emily’s parents. Calvin Sprague adds small-town flavor as the milkman, Howie Newsome, ever accompanied by his unseen cow.

Although written in 1938, “Our Town” remains relevant, giving pause to the importance of relishing each day, no matter how mundane it seems. USM’s cast members impart this message with maturity far beyond their years.

April Boyle is a freelance writer from Casco. She can be contacted at:

ahboyle@maine.rr.com

Twitter: ahboyle

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