Almost, Maine
After spending months in NJ only, I finally ventured out during the pandemic on a road trip to Maine. I fell in love with the people of Maine, they were kind, outgoing, outdoorsy, ordinary and quirky all at the same time. I loved that they used words like, wicked to describe extremely and that they still made the best of being outdoors during the pandemic, whether hiking, surfing, outdoor dining, hunting or picnicking. Maine helped me feel more myself and helped me find a slice of humanity, in a time where we are giving air hugs, tapping elbows, wearing homemade masks and overly sanitizing our hands. I found peace in the woods and serenity in the boundless starry sky.
When picking a show to film and direct in a style that can practice safety and social distancing, I was drawn to Almost, Maine for a number of reasons. Almost, Maine is a play about real people who are wickedly themselves and honestly dealing with falling in and out of: love. What a better time to witness an unromantic comedy about characters who find their autonomous selves all while weaving their life in the pattern of uncertainty. With the whimsical background of the Northern Lights, each scene has a magic moment where the characters learn about their true selves all while falling in or out of love with their partner. I often asked the actors what their magic moment was in their scene and how their Northern Lights journey inspired their character’s profound epiphany in a scene that is ordinary, endearing and magical all at the same time. Almost, Maine character’s are grounding, witty and truthful; all “state of states” I’m especially drawn to in our ever developing global state. Cariani shows audiences how diverse love can be, and uses magical realism to connect the plots of independent characters. This reinforces humanity’s interconnectedness in love and loss.
In Almost, Maine there’s a beautiful sadness that is a backdrop to the hope and joy found in the play. One can laugh and cry at the beauty that is life, one can witness humanity grow and adapt even in a global pandemic. Our Almost, Maine is filmed in present day northern Maine; where the characters are navigating how their relationships have grown and changed. With the backdrop of these relationships existing in a pandemic; the obstacles are heightened with the stress of our ever changing world. Still, true love and one’s identity can be found the more adaptable and open you are to your inner desires and true self. When we are with our remote and private selves, we are forced to look at the sadness with realness, grace and also humor. The ache of the play is subtle and candid; just like the characters; just like we’ve all been forced to witness who we are in the stillness. The next time you find yourself questioning your life’s next big change, adventure or love story, step out into the woods, gaze out at the vast stars and listen to your intuitive self.
With starry nights, love and truth,
Christina Monaco Caldwell
