The Wakeland Theater department produced Our Town, the Pulitzer Prize-winning play by Thornton Wilder, this past weekend.
In the play, junior Avishi Pandya starred in the leading role of the narrator who led the audience through the plot. Spanning over 12 years, Our Town tells the story of life, marriage, and death in three acts. This play reveals what life was like in 20th century New England, and the metatheatrical play highlighted the ability of Wakeland Theater actors and technicians.
The play began with a dramatic lighting switch that immediately demanded the audience’s attention. It followed the experiences of the families in a small town called Grover’s Corners. Wakeland Theater members including Garrett Sexton, Ella Brookshire, Kennedy Spurger, Audrey Higgins, and Tyler Newburn brought the small town story to life.
Kennedy Spurger showcased her versatility in the role of Mrs. Gibbs, a role that demanded a dramatic shift in emotions. In the first act, she amused the audience with her outspoken attitude, but in the third act her tone switched to solemn and serious, mirroring the events of the play.
Audrey Higgins also stunned audiences in her role as Emily Webb. As a daughter, wife, and eventually ghost, Higgins commanded control of the stage. She showcased the ups and downs of being a young woman throughout life, marriage, and death.
Spurger and Higgins’ advanced acting ability were vital to the emotional element of the play.
However, Our Town was not only moving and emotional, it included comedic elements as well. Characters such as Mrs. Soames (Kate Hostin) and Simon Stimson (Ava Green) made the audience erupt in laughter with their hilarious commentary.
Congratulations to Mrs. Dalfonzo, Ms. Cantrell, and the rest of Wakeland Theater for their outstanding production of Our Town. They did a remarkable job of turning the story of an ordinary town into a sweet sentimental story that we can all relate to.
Be sure to catch Wakeland Theater’s production of Irving Berlin’s White Christmas The Musical this winter!
