Synopsis:
A woman carries her heart, broken into nineteen pieces, in a small paper bag. A man shrinks to half his former size, after losing hope in love. A couple keep the love they have given each other in large red bags, or compress the mass into the size of a diamond. These playful and surreal experiences are commonplace in the world of John Cariani’s Almost, Maine, where on one deeply cold and magical Midwinter Night, the citizens of Almost -- not organized enough for a town, too populated for a wilderness -- experience the life-altering power of the human heart. Relationships end, begin, or change beyond recognition, as strangers become friends, friends become lovers, and lovers turn into strangers. Propelled by the mystical energy of the aurora borealis and populated with characters who are humorous, plain-spoken, thoughtful, and sincere, Almost, Maine is a series of loosely connected tales about love, each with a compelling couple at its center, each with its own touch of sorcery.
Note from the Director:
We chose to put on Almost, Maine this year for many reasons, but the most important to me was the fact that it allows every student who is a part of this production to have their own share of the limelight. Scenes are of equal length and (with the exception of the Prologue/Interlogue/Epilogue) characters only get one shot to be on stage and do their thing. Much like each Aurora Borealis, their scenes are special and fleeting, so people have to make the most of it and enjoy themselves while they are there in the moment.
We cover the theme of love from many angles in this show (much like the playwright intended) and hope to bring our own flavour to each one. The students have been working hard on really getting to the bottom of why relationships play out the way they do and how we can mature our understanding of the issues that pull us apart and the magic that brings us together. It has been a real exercise in respecting the emotions of others and we have seen a lot of personal growth from the entire cast as a result.
I'm glad to have had the chance to work with such a pleasant and diligent community in my first year here. We hope you enjoy what we have put together for you. Keep your eyes trained on the sky!
Nicholas Burnham
