By Jennifer M. Schlichting

This year's musical Disaster was a massive hit, drawing audiences from all over West Hartford, and I expect Our Town to be even better. Our Town is a three-act play written by Thornton Wilder in 1938, exploring the intricate lives of the Gibbs and Webb families. Written during the Great Depression, Our Town shows us of simpler times, when the struggles of one are shared with the community Thornton's choice to focus on a smaller town helps the audience see the beauty within everyday life, even during greater societal issues. Our Town illustrates themes of love, marriage, and death, ultimately emphasizing the importance of appreciating the small joys in everyday life. American playwright Edward Albee, known for his work Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?, described Our Town as "the greatest American play ever written" (arts.gov), and after watching the play on Broadway, I can't help but agree.

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This wonderful play takes place in the fictional town of Grover's Corners, New Hampshire, though it is known to be based on many towns in New England, giving the town and community a familiar feel. Despite its specific setting in Grover's Corners, the themes in Our Town are universal. The play's exploration of life, love, and death speaks to audiences across different cultures and eras, reminding us that we all share similar experiences in the journey of life.

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One thing that truly sets this play apart from others is the presence of a stage manager within the cast, who narrates, describes, and guides the audience through Our Town from start to finish. I love this detail; it truly makes you feel privy to small moments you otherwise wouldn't have noticed. Though the stage manager isn't seen by the characters throughout the play, they often play small roles, inserting themselves into the niche community. For example, they act as the minister, the soda shop owner, a local townsman, as well as a few other roles that I won’t mention, to avoid spoilers. The stage manager is more than just a narrator; they serve as the guiding force throughout the play. By stepping in to play multiple roles, the stage manager offers a sense of continuity, reminding the audience that we are all part of the same human experience, whether as observers or participants.

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Our Town is a three-act play, which is relatively common, though less so than modern two-act plays. Act one focuses mainly on building the setting, helping the audience feel a part of the town, and getting to know each character—even the less prevalent side characters. This helps you get acquainted with the cozy vibe and well-rounded characters of this town. The relationships between the characters, particularly Emily and George, feel grounded in reality. Act two develops the budding romance between our two main characters, Emily and George. Their love story is not filled with grand gestures, but rather the quiet, genuine moments that make their bond feel both timeless and relatable. Another reason why I love this play is the normalcy of the relationships, both the ups and downs, which makes them feel more real and less scripted. Act three, which I won’t explain too much to avoid spoiling the ending, explores the morality of human life, teaching the audience not to take for granted the normal moments. As the characters reflect on their lives, the audience is reminded of the importance of appreciating every fleeting moment. The quiet beauty of this conclusion is what lingers long after the curtain falls, challenging us to live fully and recognize the small joys in our own lives, helping us remember that no matter how much our lives are impacted by an event, the sun will always rise the next day, and life goes on.