Jenna Anderson-
“Do human beings ever realize life while they live it, every, every minute?” This question comes from the three-act play Our Town by Thornton Wilder. Our Town will be performed on November 7th through the 11th in the Gardner Lab Theatre. The Saturday matinee begins at 3:30 p.m., and the Sunday matinee is at 2:00 p.m. The evening shows on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday begin at 8:00 p.m.
Our Town has three acts titled, “The Daily Life”, “Love and Marriage”, and “Death and Eternity.” It follows the Webb and Gibbs families throughout their lives in Grover’s Corners, New Hampshire. “What starts as a simple illustration of a typical day in Grover’s Corners ends as a powerful reflection on how we can best live our lives and how we might regard the world and our place in it,” Senior Gavia Yount said.
Junior Julia Nelson plays the role of the Stage Manager, the omniscient narrator of Our Town. “A lot of art forms that are meant to talk about daily life aren’t reality, and are rather dramatized,” Nelson said. “Our Town is the most real any play can get because it talks about real situations and doesn’t put them lightly.” Even though it was written in the early 1900’s, the themes of Our Town are relatable to us today, as we live our own daily lives in an often unforgiving world.
Visiting Assistant Professor in Theatre and Dance and Director of Our Town, Matt Trucano, was described by Nelson as, “not only just a wonderful human being… but a wonderful director, talented, and genius.” Many other cast members had similar remarks about their experience working with Trucano. “When Our Town premiered in 1938, it was radical, experimental theater. We’re trying to harness that energy to find something new for the audience to connect to today,” Trucano said.
Our Town performs on the weekend after the presidential election. This show, especially in a time that feels so uncertain, puts into perspective that life continues moving even through uncertainty. “Thornton Wilder says that the play is about ‘the life of the village measured against the life of the stars’. Likely, votes will continue to be counted as we perform the play and there could be a sense of unease and uncertainty. Our Town is maybe the only play I can imagine watching or performing in such a consequential moment” Trucano said.
Film Major and Senior Lillian Grimm is the student director of Our Town. Grimm’s background and expertise are displayed in the final scene of the play, where film is mixed with live theatre while life is mixed with death. This added element brings the play to life unexpectedly and movingly. You’ll have to see it for yourself!
Our Town answers the question “What does it mean to be human?” Junior Caroline Butler said. Additionally, “what does it mean to be present? Why live in the moment? If life has meaning, what is it to each individual person?” Nelson added. This is a play that puts the short time we have on earth into perspective, exploring the intense concepts of love and mortality in a way that is incredibly simple and raw.
A lot of hard work from the cast and crew has gone into preparing Our Town. Trucano commented, “I’ve been so honored at the high level of commitment and enthusiasm from the actors, stage managers, crew, and designers. It has been really hard work (for everyone!) but we are starting to see the fruits of our labor. I’m so excited for the audience!”
Our Town will be performed from November 7th through the 11th in the Gardner Lab Theatre. Gustavus students get a free ticket with their student ID, and there are many opportunities to see the show! So go see Our Town “If you need that little break and reminder that life goes on through everything,” Sophomore Madison Walker said.