"Our Town" endearing, philosophical, funny
Matt Simantel
Issue date: 11/30/05 Section: Life
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The weekend before Thanksgiving, the Mount Theatre staged a production of Thornton Wilder's "Our Town." Its trip through the life and death of a town's population was charming and its uniquely philosophical conclusion left me impressed.
Wilder wrote the play intending for the stage to have no props and few actual set pieces. The Mount's production contained only a wall representing buildings, two trellises, and a few tables and chairs. This left the execution of the play to its actors and actresses.
Dr Gibbs and Mr. Webb, the patriarchs of the town, were played very admirably by Patrick Mendonca and Andrew Shaw respectively. Their fictional wives were plyaed by Jillian Driscoll and Danielle Greene.
Also to be commended is Matthew Heaps for his portrayal of the stage manager. I found this unique narrating role to be integral, as the narrator provided background on the town, introduction to scenes, and helped to develop emotional perspective on the town's inhabitants. Heaps' monologuesprovided a clearer insight into the philosophical nature of the play.
This philosophy was, in my opinion, the root of the play's intention. Ryan Breslin, who played church musical director (and town drunk) Simon Stimson, provided some of the play's most powerful lines: "At the mercy of one self-centered passion, or another… [in] ignorance and blindness." This was in response to Emily Webb, portrayed youthfully by Emily Fiorenza. Webb had died, and chose to go back and view a day in her past life. She experienced the pain of reviewing one's life knowing what's to come.
The ultimate revelation that in life, we do not value the fact that we are able to live and experience all that we do in life. Wilder's play, though written early in the twentieth century, still resounds today. Consumed by the ins and outs of our daily lives, we often fail to realize the real value of the lives we lead.
All of the performers performed admirably, with emotionally delivery, convincing pantomime, and a sense of exuberance, which had the audience tearful and laughing.
Wilder wrote the play intending for the stage to have no props and few actual set pieces. The Mount's production contained only a wall representing buildings, two trellises, and a few tables and chairs. This left the execution of the play to its actors and actresses.
Dr Gibbs and Mr. Webb, the patriarchs of the town, were played very admirably by Patrick Mendonca and Andrew Shaw respectively. Their fictional wives were plyaed by Jillian Driscoll and Danielle Greene.
Also to be commended is Matthew Heaps for his portrayal of the stage manager. I found this unique narrating role to be integral, as the narrator provided background on the town, introduction to scenes, and helped to develop emotional perspective on the town's inhabitants. Heaps' monologuesprovided a clearer insight into the philosophical nature of the play.
This philosophy was, in my opinion, the root of the play's intention. Ryan Breslin, who played church musical director (and town drunk) Simon Stimson, provided some of the play's most powerful lines: "At the mercy of one self-centered passion, or another… [in] ignorance and blindness." This was in response to Emily Webb, portrayed youthfully by Emily Fiorenza. Webb had died, and chose to go back and view a day in her past life. She experienced the pain of reviewing one's life knowing what's to come.
The ultimate revelation that in life, we do not value the fact that we are able to live and experience all that we do in life. Wilder's play, though written early in the twentieth century, still resounds today. Consumed by the ins and outs of our daily lives, we often fail to realize the real value of the lives we lead.
All of the performers performed admirably, with emotionally delivery, convincing pantomime, and a sense of exuberance, which had the audience tearful and laughing.