Our Town is a reminder to pay attention to the details of our lives because even the most ordinary moments are far more precious than we realize while we are living them. Attention to detail was key to excellence of the recent production of the Thornton Wilder classic by Saint Louis University Theatre and Dance.
The action takes place on a nearly bare stage. The play’s stage manager is not in his usual place behind the scenes. Instead, he is the first person to appear on stage and speaks directly to the audience when he introduces the actors, the play’s setting—Grover’s Corners—and the people who live in the small New Hampshire town.
In addition to narrating, the Stage Manager occasionally steps into a part to interact with townspeople. The life stories of all the characters appear to be at his fingertips—not only their histories but also what happens to them later in their lives.
The Stage Manager is often portrayed as a person of gravity and advanced years. In the striking concept by director Gaby Rodriguez, SLU had a young, vibrant Stage Manager who epitomized the single most important quality any stage manager must have—authority. His enthusiasm for Grover’s Corners and its people was irresistible in Alexia Thornton’s commanding portrayal. This approach gave the production remarkable freshness.
The SLU cast was first rate from top to bottom. Colleen Dundon as Emily Webb and Aadi Kadam as George Gibbs were charmers as the young people at the heart of the play’s love story. Their deeply caring parents were Bryce James as Dr. Gibbs, Karina Widman as Mrs. Gibbs, Jake Santhuff as Mr. Webb, and Meredith Lyons as Mrs. Webb. Claire Davis was George’s sister, Rebecca, and Rose Reiker was Emily’s brother, Wally, and Professor Willard.
The ensemble included Arjun Swaroop (Joe Crowell, Si Crowell), David Joseph (Howie Newsome), Frankie Haefner (Simon Stimson), Madeline Chatham (Mrs. Soames), and Lauren Tubbe (Constable Warren, Joe Stoddard)
Lou Bird’s costumes definitively established the play’s early 20th century setting. Bird’s scenic design used the stage’s full width and depth. Rodriguez’ direction fully exploited this space. Denisse Chavez’s lighting carefully guided viewers’ eyes to the appropriate part of the stage. Lucy Cashion created a vivid soundscape for mimed action, and Joe Taylor’s original music and arrangements were splendid additions.
The thought and effort that went into this production left no doubt why Our Town has held its place in the repertory.
—Gerry Kowarsky
Photo by ProPhotoSTL
The Stage Manager (Alexia Thornton) steps into the action as the proprietor of Morgan’s drugstore and mimes making ice cream sodas for Emily Webb (Colleen Dundon) and George Gibbs (Aadi Kadam) in Act 2 of Our Town.
