Our Town, Act III
Would you go back?
TW: Death and Our Town plot spoilers
My theatre is currently in rehearsals for Our Town, the existential American play by Thorton Wilder. Until now, I hadn’t read the play since high school. It was presented as rather dark and depressing then. I’m delighted to say that it’s much better and more meaningful this time around. It really shouldn’t be played as a quiet, heavy, somber, show. It’s full of moments of joy and tenderness, of family relationships and growing up. I’m very happy to be a part of it as Mrs. Gibbs, especially with this wonderful director and cast.
For those not familiar with Our Town, it takes place in the small town of Grover’s Corners, New Hampshire from 1901 until 1913. It follows the lives of several residents, particularly the Webb and Gibbs families. The first act is “Daily Life”. The second is “Love and Marriage”. The third act deals with the end of life, specifically of the female lead, Emily Webb, due to childbirth. While Acts I and II are wonderful, it’s Act III that I wonder about the most.
As Emily’s funeral ends at the cemetery, her spirit joins the others in the play who have gone before her: her mother-in-law, Mrs. Gibbs, her brother, Wally, the alcoholic choir director, and various others.
