Past Reviews

Regional Reviews: San Francisco

Our Town
Shotgun Players


Madeline H.D. Brown
Shotgun Players has always had a reputation for creating fresh interpretations of the classics, and for the final production of their 23rd season they are presenting Thornton Wilder's classic Our Town featuring original music by The Bensons.

Our Town is certainly one of the greatest American plays ever written. This Pulitzer Prize winning drama has been called America's most read and most produced play. Thousands of high school and regional productions have been presented to the public. Time has not reduced its absorbing blend of reminiscences of small-town life in America.

The first time I saw play was at the ANTA Playhouse in November 1969 with Henry Fonda playing the role of the Stage Manager. That production had some of the greatest acting names of stage and screen: Harvey Evans, Elizabeth Hartman, Ed Begley, John Beal, Margaret Hamilton and John Randolph.

Director Susannah Martin has reverted the piece back to its classic roots and has assembled a large excellent cast to play the citizens of Grover's Corners. The drama tells of the lives of the townfolk from 1901 to 1913 with the plot centering around Emily (El Beh) and George (Josh Schell), childhood sweethearts who court and marry. The first act takes place over the course of a single day, May 7, 1901. The second act culminates in the wedding of the young couple on July 7, 1904, and the third act transports the audience to the town cemetery nine years later.

El Beh as Emily emerges as the primary articulator of the themes of the play. She is effervescent as the young girl. Josh Shell gives a convincing performance as the typical all-American boy. He displays an extraordinary confusion, both during the soda fountain scene and when George receives some silly advice from his future father-in-law, played very agreeably by Tim Kniffin.

Susannah Martin could not have picked a better actress than Madeline H.D. Brown as the Stage Manager. She is impressive in the role, strong and instantly likeable. Molly Noble and Michelle Talgarow give lovely performances as Mrs. Gibbs and Mrs. Mrs. Webb, especially in the first and third acts. Christine Macomber is excellent as Professor Willard who gives out the facts of this small town of 2000-plus. Karen Offereins, as George's younger sister Rebecca, makes the most of her small role, especially in the scene about the letter. Christopher W. White is excellent as the drunken choir director Simon. Outstanding are Wiley Naman Strasser, Sam Jackson, Valerie Fachman, Eli Wirtschafter and Don Wood in various roles. The choral work of Abigail and Shaun Bergson adds to the enjoyment of this drama of small-town America.

The director employs a good deal of smart stagecraft in realizing this materialization of Grover's Corners. The audience still uses its imagination to complete the visuals, as the author intended. Scenic designer Nina Ball provides a center stage with members of the audience sitting on each side of the center square. The tables and chairs used by the actors represent places, including a church and a cemetery. The actors occasionally sit in the audience and then go to center stage when called upon to perform. Lighting design by Heather Basarab is perfect, using overhead lights to give the impression of brightening dawn to sober rain in the cemetery scene. Christine Crook has aptly dressed the actors in vintage clothes of the period.

Our Town runs through January 25th, 2015, at The Ashby Stage, 1901 Ashby Ave, Berkeley. For tickets go to www.shotgunplayers.org or call 510-841-6500.


Photo: Cheshire Isaacs


Cheers - and be sure to Check the lineup of great shows this season in the San Francisco area

- Richard Connema