Our Town Comes to Orcas Island!

"Our Town" Stage Manager, Antoinette Botsford, guides Sorrel Hughes and Kellen Comrie in their major roles in the Orcas Center/Public School/Public Library collaboration this weekend.

Opening Night Friday, Jan. 20 at 7:30 p.m. at the Off-Center Stage

By Brigid Ehrmantraut

Despite snowy days and icy roads, Orcas Center’s production of Our Town takes the Off-Center Stage this weekend with a cast of  local students.  Due to weather conditions and subsequently re-scheduled rehearsals, the Thursday, Jan. 19 performance was canceled and a new one scheduled for Sunday, Jan. 22.

The show has been in rehearsal since September, though dress and technical rehearsals started the beginning of this week. Recently, participants had to battle seasonal colds and wintery storms to even get to practices. The weather was not the only challenge: lines were a bit difficult to memorize (though everyone is currently feeling rather confident on that front since the plethora of school-free snow days has allowed for more rehearsal time); kids who portray multiple characters are faced with mere minutes to change costumes ( it always takes longer to do hair and makeup than expected), and pantomiming actions without props takes a little getting used to.

Remaining silent backstage has been another learning experience!

Grace McCune directs in collaboration with public school teacher, Natasha Meskew.

Thornton Wilder’s well-known play is about the daily life of a small, rural town in New Hampshire at the beginning of the twentieth century. The plot follows the lives of the  residents of Grovers Corners, specifically Emily (Sorrel Hughes), the daughter of the local Editor, her fiancee George (Kellen Comrie), the son of the town’s doctor, and their parents (Clarabeth Smith, Sky Bear Aguilar, and Brigid Ehrmantraut) over the course of about a decade. Overall, it’s a coming of age story, which celebrates everyday life.

The production itself recognizes its own theatricality.  Several characters are presented as audience members and the entire story is partially-narrated, partially-read aloud by an omniscient Stage Manager played by Orcas storyteller Antoinette Botsford (the only adult  in the production.)The show takes place in a series of three acts spaced a few years apart. The first act introduces the characters and their relationships with one another and the town. The second one develops the romance between Emily and George and the friendship between their families.

In the last section, the tone changes from comedic and sometimes sentimental to profound and contemplative as it deals with eternity and the death of a character who must later confront the implications of his/her life and ultimate place in the Universe.

Botsford, who has taught the play in theater classes during her career, sees the drama as an optimistic and enlightening look at the world after this one and the possibilities of continued existence after physical demise.

The main roles are all played by high schoolers, while elementary and middle schoolers fill out the diverse community of Grovers Corners. This younger cast includes: Sabrina Bailey, Stormy Hildreth, Alanna Lago, Cierra Lutz, Nate Smith, Olivia Smith, Violet Sturk, Tori Sturk, Maggie Thomas, Evelyn Thurman, and Meg Waage.  Some actors play more than one role. Eighth-grader Ray Doss is in charge of lighting.

The play is being produced in conjunction with Orcas Public Library’s “Orcas Reads” initiative.

All individuals involved are excited for opening night tomorrow on the 20th. Other performances follow on Saturday and Sunday. Each one starts at 7:30 in the Black Box. Tickets are $11.00 for students and $15.00 for adults.

We can’t wait to see you there!