Written by Rosie Saccardo
Almost, Maine is ‘almost’ more than perfect! The play is made up of nine separate skits that are full of laughs, surprises, and magical moments. The romantic comedy takes place on one chilly night in Almost, Maine, a town that isn’t technically a town because the residents never got around to getting it organized. The people in Almost experience important lessons about love and loss, and will never be the same.
The writer, John Cariani, cleverly uses irony and symbols to make the stories flow in hilarious and heartbreaking ways. In the scene “Her Heart,” a woman carries her broken heart in a paper bag and in “This Hurts,” a man is unable to feel things, both literally and figuratively.
The play starts with Pete (Gary Gaudet) and Ginette (Lucy Applegate), a couple that learns about what it means to be close. Pete introduces the strange idea that “the farthest away you can be from somebody is right next to them.” He uses a snowball as Earth, to show that distance is a weird concept, not realizing that his idea has a melancholy undertone. The scene sets up the next few mesmerizing stories perfectly, giving the audience something to really think about and consider as they go on a journey of love with the citizens of Almost, Maine.
Mr. Hill, one of the directors of the show, says, “I think Almost, Maine provides a different format for both our actors and the audience…. This production is a unique look at love and its unique connection to the joy, pain, and at times the loneliness of the human condition. It is, all at once, both funny and sad.” [The complexity of the play that Mr. Hill describes, is something that every person who has worked on this play feels.] Almost, Maine will shock audiences with the ever changing emotions of the characters and will compel the views to really dwell on the human desire for connection. The cast of “Almost, Maine” hopes you will be able to join us on November first and second!
What: “Almost, Maine” the play.
When: Fri Nov. 1st. Sat Nov. 2nd. Both shows are at 7:00 pm.
Where: Green Mountain Union High School Auditorium.
Cost: $8 ($5 students/seniors)
Almost, Maine Cast/Scenes
ACT ONE:
Scene 1: Prologue
Pete- Gary
Ginette- Lucy
Scene 2: Her Heart
East- Erik
Glory- Sarah
Scene 3: Sad and Glad
Jimmy- Philip
Sandrine- Bonnie
Waitress (Villian)- Tunjung
Scene 4: This Hurts
Marvalyn- Anne
Steve- Narelle
Scene 5: Getting It Back
Gayle- Raevyn
Lendall- Gary
ACT TWO:
Scene 6: They Fell
Deena- Lucy
Shelly- Anna
Scene 7: Where It Went
Phil- Philip
Marci- Rosie
Scene 8: Story of Hope
Hope- Caroline
Man (Dan)- Graeffn
Scene 9: Seeing the Thing
Rhonda- Rosie
Dave- Erik
Epilogue:
Pete- Gary
Ginette- Lucy