Interview: OUR TOWN Cast Will Present Slice of Small Town Life at Apollo Civic Theatre
By: Johnna Leary Feb. 04, 2016
Just in time for Valentine's Day, the ultimate American theater classic about life and love lessons, Thornton Wilder's Our Town, will open at the Apollo Civic Theatre. Directed by Amanda Hartman, Our Town is a slice of small town life over a decade in Grover's Corners. The town citizens reveal every day problems and pleasures while the central story focuses on the lives of two families, the Webbs and Gibbs, as they eventually join together as George Gibbs and Emily Webb become romantically involved.
While Our Town presents timeless life lessons, the show is set in turn of the century America and is famous for the use of pantomiming props and set pieces. The cast not only had to adapt to a radically different time period, but an unconventional theatrical method as well.
"The most challenging factor of this production had to be adapting to the time period of this show. Even though it's staged in the 1900s, it shows small town life at its finest" said Kenneth May, who plays Howie Newsome, Sam Craig and a Baseball Player.
"Everything has to be pantomimed. Try pantomiming in an era that you weren't born in. A stove back then was very different from a stove today. Our Town is done in a minimalistic style which truly allows for the meaning and the beauty of the show to shine through. Watching the show come to life that way through the rehearsal process just gives you chills" said Sara Gordon, who plays Woman in Auditorium.
"Audiences should come see this show because it's very unique. Certain commodities that theatre usually uses, such as props and sets, are used very little to none. The show uses pantomime for almost everything. I think that if someone hasn't seen a show like this before, they should definitely become acquainted with it" said Noah Gross on playing George Gibbs.
"Thornton Wilder wrote Our Town with a minimalistic set that requires a great deal of imagination on the part of the actors and audience. We've all had to work hard on creating believable miming actions on stage so that the audience can become absorbed in the story and can "see" the scenery rather than being distracted by the minimalist physical set" said Larry Marcille, who plays Simon Stimson.
Much like the small town family they portray in the show, the Our Town cast quickly bonded over their rehearsal period while bringing these small town characters to life.
"As a newcomer to the stage, I really enjoyed the process of building a stage family" said James Boyd, who plays Professor Willard and Joe Stoddard. "The cast of this show is a great group of people and getting to know them has been great" said May.
"I'd say the most enjoyable part of the rehearsal process was working with and learning from the adults in the cast" said Delaney Herold, who plays Emily Webb. "Watching the young people in the show has been very impressive and moving" said Sera Drevenak, who plays Woman in Balcony.
"Working with my fellow actors was very enjoyable. They are definitely a crazy bunch and they are extremely fun to work with!" said Gross
The cast is eager to bring the small town characters in Grover's Corners to life at the Apollo Civic Theatre in Martinsburg.
"Our Town won the Pulitzer Prize for Drama in 1938. This story, which is set in the small town of Grover's Corners, New Hampshire from 1901-1913 tells the story of Daily Living, Love and Marriage, and ends with a particularly surreal exploration of Death and Dying. The show explores these universally understood themes and will make audiences think deeply about the value of living life to the fullest, loving deeply every day, and taking time to appreciate the small things in life" said Marcille.
"This production at the Apollo Civic Theatre is an awesome way to cultivate community and join family and friends in a much admired process." said Boyd. "It's a classic that deserves being revisited, and this cast is great! Far from being too dated to be relevant, I think the play has as much to tell us today as [when it was written] in 1938" said Drevenak
"Even though it's staged in the 1900s, it shows small town life at its finest" said May. "I think people should come see this show because it contains many life lessons that everyone should be reminded of" said Herold.
"Audiences should come see this show because it's honest and raw. It's not decorated with fluff and dance numbers. It speaks to every heart and if they truly listen and absorb what's being said, maybe, just maybe, they will enjoy life a little bit more and not take everything for granted" said Gordon.
The Our Town cast also features Sarah Celec as the Stage Manager, Rick Harner as Dr. Gibbs, Sandra DeRocha as Mrs. Gibbs, Amelia Marino as Rebecca Gibbs, Todd Robertson as Mr. Webb, Lauren Hugg as Mrs. Webb, Gentry Jackson as Wally Webb, Noah Herold as Joe Crowell Jr. and Si Crowell, Kathy Bost as Mrs. Soames, Michael Noll as Constable Warren, Natasha Fields as Lady in the Box, Gabrielle Kijewski as Baseball Player and Ronda Hayes, Joseph Yvette, Tiffany Leighton and Becky Raynes as Ensemble members.
Our Town runs February 5, 6, 12 and 13 at 8:00 PM and February 7 and 14 at 2:30 PM. Tickets are $15 for Friday and Saturday evening shows and $12 for Sunday matinees. Student tickets are $10 for all performances. The Apollo Civic Theatre is located at 128 East Martin Street, Martinsburg, WV, 25402. For more information about upcoming performances, please visit www.apollo-theatre.org
Photo Credit: Apollo Civic Theater
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