A Wilder approach to life

If Thornton Wilder's "Our Town" is one of the most frequently produced plays of all time, it is with good reason. The lyrical play celebrates a small-town Americana often glossed over by history and eulogizes lives that are too soon blown away like dandelion seeds in the wind.

Fortunately, JMU's production does justice to the delicate poetry of Wilder's words and the truth of his vision, backing up the pathos with wry humor.

Taking place in Grover's Corners, N.H. from 1904 to 1913, "Our Town" takes a slice-of-life look at the familial and romantic relationships of its denizens — among them, young Emily Webb and George Gibbs. The first act focuses on the daily life of the townsfolk while the second act tells of love and marriage. Or that In the third act, townspeople who have passed on gather at the cemetery in a state of limbo, detached from the desires of their old lives. Emily, who died childbirth, is granted the chance to spend one more day among the living — only to discover that she as well as those she loved never lived life to its fullest. An all-knowing stage manager narrates the story and also interacts with the characters.

Though Tom Arthur shies away from risk-taking, his direction is solid nonetheless. He has drawn out some sensitive performances from the 17-person ensemble. Sophomore Matt Kagen (Wally Webb) said, "The trick has been maintaining a sense of cohesiveness among town members to create this environment" this web of communal relationships is made clear.

Sophomore Brynn Dorsey is fine as the still-girlish Mrs. Webb, as is sophomore Daniel Crabtree plays her articulate husband. Jamaal Anthony YEAR? NOT LISTED IN BOOK, (who shares the role with sophomore Megan Tusing) was an engaging stage senior Sara Eshleman gave an emotionally charged performance as Emily, although some of her early delivery was perhaps too brazen.

The lighting was effective and the decorous costumes added color and character. The set, which included huge oblongs of iridescent violent fringe, were stunning. This stylized setting lent a feel of hedged-in comfort and uniformity to the first two acts and brought to mind other-wordly gravestones in the third. Also, gilt rooftops were lowered from the flies — only the church steeple remained for George's and Emily's wedding.

JMU’s rendition of the play was well-executed and perfectly performed, as well as applicable to our every day life.

Tusing said, [‘Our Town’] applies to now as well as then because we face the same issues of life, death, marriage and growing up." JMU's production illuminates these very issues with equal doses of laughter and tears.