DISCLAIMER: This play is dangerous to lovers of romance. Tissues are optional, but highly recommended.
Tired of ankle-length dresses and “wherefore art thou Romeo?” talk in your love stories? Have no fear because starting Oct. 31st, Creighton is putting on a modern, albeit cold production that embodies present-day characters and fashion-forward snow pants.
First hitting world stages in 2004, “Almost, Maine” is a charming series of love tales that explore the various adventures of residents in the town of Almost, Maine. The show is composed of vignettes, or short scenes that focus on a single aspect of the play rather than everything as a whole. The nine vignettes in “Almost, Maine” can be as long as 15 minutes or as short as 30 seconds, so this production is especially good for those who are not fond of long, drawn-out acts.
“The great thing about vignettes is that there is no coherent plot, but rather a goal in the end the play is geared towards,” Arts & Sciences sophomore stage manager Ephriam Harnsberger explained.
The production is set around the specific time of Friday at 9 p.m. This detail, along with many others, is crucial to the storyline; the original script is written with meticulously detailed breaks in dialogue and setting qualities. Every word, action and silence is carefully tailored to maximize the audience’s experience.
Eight actors have taken on the challenge to play the 20 different characters in “Almost, Maine”. This can be confusing, but with each character adorned in a different winter costume, the audience shouldn’t have trouble keeping up.
The brains behind almost the entire operation is Arts & Sciences senior Jake McCoy. “Almost, Nov. 4 Maine” is his senior thesis, and the framework of the play was produced exclusively on his iPad. A technical theater major, McCoy holds the collective positions of scene, costume, projection and props designers.
“The approach I’m taking is not limited to normal means,” McCoy says. “I went completely paperless for this production, which is efficient and allows for more freedom otherwise.”
Any audience member can look at a scene in “Almost, Maine” and think, “wow, I know exactly what they’re going through.” There is so much variety in the acts; one will have trouble not finding a character to get attached to. The level of immersion into real-life heartache will leave viewers emotionally exhausted, but begging for more.
“This show leaves an impact,” Arts & Sciences senior Shannon Lampkin said. “There’s someone [in the play] for everyone to connect to; people will leave the show having gotten something out of it.”
Lampkin is a trifecta of characters, playing Ginette, Villian, and Marci.
“Guys can relate to this play too,” added Arts & Sciences sophomore Matt Lincoln, who plays Lendall and Daniel. “There’s so much cluelessness and confusion, which adds humor, but makes it easy to relate to. There’s a lot of internal conflict that really hits home.”
“Almost, Maine” is that perfect, cozy winter play that will tug at heartstrings of lovers, both old and young. Be sure to note the stunning backdrops. Visual auroras take the story outdoors and enhance the icy props to make one feel as if they’re really in the frozen terrain of northern Maine. So, curl up with a cup of imaginary hot chocolate (because food and drinks aren’t allowed in the theater) and enjoy the play that rivals “Miracle on 34th Street” in its level of feel-good entertainment.
“By the end, people will feel a renewed sense of hope in love, and hopefully discover that love can do a lot more than we give it credit for” Harnsberger said.