Cast: Nylda Ria John Mark (Stage Manager), Jovoni Lewis (Mrs. Gibbs), Jamie Elvey (Mrs. Webb), and many other taltented performers
I've seen Our Town a few times and this production was very different from any other that I'd seen. The additional music was nice, though the choir robes were very distracting from the show. In the time of Our Town, the choir would wear (as they have in every other production) their normal clothes to practice. Heck, even in modern choirs I don't know of any that practice in their choir robes.
I had never seen act three done without any make-up to make those in the cemetary look as they're dead or with them all wearing the same clothes (choir robes again). I definitely have to say that the choir robes thing and lack of a real "stage manager" directing things and narrating things made the show feel very disconnected and less powerful. I'll definitely have to find a more traditional version of it to show my husband how the play is normally done. He seemed a bit confused as to how this choir lady fit in and I explained the way it's normally done...
The acting was great and the introductions to each act with characters telling the audience not to use those mobile phones (which haven't been invented yet), etc. were wonderful. I think everyone did a great job. Nylda Ria John Mark was particularly impressive as the stage manager, even though that role was drastically changed.
Although I definitely prefer a more traditional staging of Our Town, it's always interesting to see new interpretations of classics.
Grade: C+
Labels: 2006, Best Revival, drama, play
Reviewed by Kat at the 8:00 PM show | 0 screams