Our Town

[broadway86]

Posted: 4/14/05 at 2:51pm

Just wanted to see what you guys thought of this play, er... masterpiece.

I'm a college student, but I was recently given the opportunity to direct a full-scale production of it, which will play this December. I'm excited, because students don't normally get that chance. Anyways, I was reading it for the first time in months today, and I started crying.

I'm only making one major change to the show: I'm having two stage managers, one male and one female.

Posted: 4/14/05 at 2:54pm

That could be an interesting choice for the Stage Manager. I've done this piece a couple of times, and have never flagged in my devotion to it. Timeless and magical - and relevant to anyone, anywhere, anytime.

[DottieD'Luscia]

Posted: 4/14/05 at 2:56pm

As I've mentioned in earlier threads, this is my favorite play.

Somewhat off-topic: I went to the Jacquelyn Kennedy exhibit in DC a couple of years ago. A seating chart was displayed for one of the dinners hosted at the White House, and Thornton Wilder was one of the guests.

[broadway86]

Posted: 4/14/05 at 2:59pm

"That could be an interesting choice for the Stage Manager."

Thanks. That's what I was thinking. The two actors I chose, not only have great chemistry, but have dignity and maturity beyond their years.
Updated On: 4/14/05 at 02:59 PM

Posted: 4/14/05 at 3:00pm

While it would push boundaries of the time period evoked, it would be interesting to have the female read the minister's role

[munkustrap178]

Posted: 4/14/05 at 3:00pm

I adore this play - it's my favorite.

2 stage managers? I don't think it's an improvement. I'm not saying you are, but I hate when people change things just for the sake of changing something.

[broadway86]

Posted: 4/14/05 at 3:06pm

I'm not changing it just for the hell of it. I think it's a really fascinating concept and could probably add something.

Posted: 4/14/05 at 3:06pm

I don't necessarily seeit as adding or subtracting anything from the piece overall - but it DOES provide one more opportunity for someone to be involved in the project, and that's not really a bad thing in an educational environment.

[broadway86]

Posted: 4/14/05 at 3:07pm

True dat, DGrant.

[DottieD'Luscia]

Posted: 4/14/05 at 3:11pm

A production performed at The Roundhouse Theatre in Bethesda, MD used Pat Carroll as the Stage Manager and she was wonderful and quite effective. It's the first time I had seen that role played by a woman, and I don't think it matters who plays it. It will be interesting to see how you incorporate the two.

Updated On: 4/14/05 at 03:11 PM

[munkustrap178]

Posted: 4/14/05 at 3:11pm

2 stage managers is "fascinating????????????"

[broadway86]

Posted: 4/14/05 at 3:13pm

Yes. Not only is it something that you rarely (if ever) see, but there's no reason why it shouldn't work.

[munkustrap178]

Posted: 4/14/05 at 3:18pm

No, there's no reason why it shouldn't work and no, it's not something you usually see. Does it add to the piece? No. While it certainly doesn't detract from the piece, I see it as a very amateur approach because to me, it just cries out "I'm doing this at school at more people need roles." While interesting and different, fascinating? How is it fascinating?

[Rose_MacShane]

Posted: 4/14/05 at 3:18pm

I saw a version last November that had 3 stage managers. Not because the director wanted to shake things up, but because it was a play production class and everyone had to have a role, so he split it three ways. I didn't find it distracting at all.

[DottieD'Luscia]

Posted: 4/14/05 at 3:18pm

Where is your production taking place?

[AndiV]

Posted: 4/14/05 at 3:40pm

I saw a production in Nashville where the Stage Manager played the guitar...sang some lines here and there...played while he spoke...like a roving story teller or minstrel. It was a GREAT choice...made the whole evening feel very warm and welcoming. Very much a hometown feel. I loved it!

[Up In Won]

Posted: 4/14/05 at 3:52pm

This is SO strange... I was looking through my Literatie book today, and happened upon a few acts of Our Town. And, because I was curious, I hotted down Thorton Miller and Frank Craven's names. I don't know, but this is way creepy that this popped up today!


Ot, whatever their names were. Hehe.

Updated On: 4/14/05 at 03:52 PM

[Gothampc]

Posted: 4/14/05 at 3:55pm

"I saw a production in Nashville where the Stage Manager played the guitar"

Which group did it in Nashville?

I'm having to agree with munk: 1 stage manager. (It should be a man).

[AndiV]

Posted: 4/14/05 at 4:02pm

Actor's Bridge in Nashville.

www.actorsbridge.org

Are you familiar with them? I took some classes with Bill Feehely and was also in their production of Trojan Women. They do a lot of interesting things.

[ashley0139]

Posted: 4/14/05 at 4:09pm

Gotham and munk- I'm not quite sure I understand you're view. It sounds to me like you are just wanting to continue the tradition and not be open to change. Maybe not, and you truly think the role HAS to be played like that, but it doesn't seem to me like you are even trying to think about it.

[Gothampc]

Posted: 4/14/05 at 4:22pm

The Stage Manager functions as a narrator at times. By calling him the Stage Manager, the audience puts their trust in one person to lead them into the story. However, with more than one person, the alliances of the audience are split, it confuses them because they don't know who to "trust". If Wilder had wanted more than one person, he would have called them Chorus.

Updated On: 4/14/05 at 04:22 PM

[munkustrap178]

Posted: 4/14/05 at 4:24pm

Exactly. If Wilder wanted 2 stage managers, he would have written two parts. Don't mess with the masters.

[DottieD'Luscia]

Posted: 4/14/05 at 4:27pm

I saw another production in DC last year where in the finale, Emily played her birthday scene in the kitchen by herself. The voice of her mother came over the loud speaker. It was a truly horrendous move on the part of the director to stage it that way and totally ruined the play.

[ljay889]

Posted: 4/14/05 at 4:49pm

I played Howie in this show. Nice show.

We had a different stage mananger for each act. And we had a female minister in act 2! It worked great.

[munkustrap178]

Posted: 4/14/05 at 4:54pm

A different stage manager for each act? That's awful.