Paly Theatre’s fall production of “Our Town” premiered at the Performing Arts Center on Nov. 15.
Set in early 20th-century New Hampshire, the three-act play followed George Gibbs (senior Ellis Edmonds), Emily Webb (junior Aashi Agarwal) and their families in the small town of Grover’s Corners as they navigated themes of family, love and mortality.
Director and theater teacher Sarah Thermond said she chose to perform “Our Town” as a more intimate play that contrasted with the dramatic spectacle of “Hamlet” performed as last semester’s spring play.
“I thought that would be a cool acting challenge after doing such high energy shows last year,” Thermond said. “(‘Our Town’) is also a real classic play; people have even called it the greatest American play.”
Sophomore Thomas Pitman said one of the biggest challenges in preparing for the show was balancing theater with other commitments. As the play’s assistant director, Pitman held many responsibilities including publicity, note taking and directing.
“Scheduling conflicts are always difficult,” Pitman said. “I’ve put in over 100 hours (on the play).”
Despite the hard work and long hours, junior Brendan Giang, who played Dr. Gibbs, said he enjoyed exploring how each character’s complexities added depth to the play.
“(Dr. Gibbs was) another middle-aged man with a PhD,” Giang said. “He (was) not the central character in the story, but he (played) an important role in showing the differences between the relationships in the show.”
Thermond said one distinctive characteristic of the play was that it broke the fourth wall, the imaginary barrier between actors and the audience.
“It involved the audience a lot,” Thermond said. “There were characters who spoke directly to the audience and acknowledged that it was a play.”
Ultimately, Giang said the performance aimed to resonate beyond the stage.
“Theater is about a community of people coming together to create an experience, a meaningful experience for audience members,” Giang said. “Our goal is not only to entertain but also for them to leave with something maybe they hadn’t thought of before.”
