THORNTON WILDER’S - "OUR TOWN"
review by Ed Vincent

"Our Town" is a timeless universal tale of life, love,
and longing.  A small town, sort of an existential
Mayberry, filled with more than enough wisdom in
words and action.  The writing by Thornton Niven Wilder
awarded him with a Pulitzer Prize   for "Letters: Drama" in 1938.
He had already won a previous Pulitzer in 1928, for a novel
titled, "The Bridge of San Luis Rey".
 

Thornton Wilder 1897-1975

George Gibbs ( Brad Burton ) and Emily Webb
( Molly Meehan ) have a wonderful rapport and sweet
presence on stage. The writing is award winning and
the acting is talented from start to finish.

Kristen Williams does a wonderful job of narration and
countless other roles she is called upon to  perform for
our benefit.  The Zen inspired minimalist settings work
well with spot lit focused drama.  There are a few times
where the spot lighted stage quickly turns to the entire
audience being lit, this is annoying and focuses your
attention beyond the drama.

There is time in the play where Doc Gibbs corrects his
sons behavior.  The young George Gibbs has been letting
his mother do the wood cutting for the house while George
Gibbs is relaxing after school.  This is still too prevalent
today as I see middle aged parents shoveling their snow
while their high school aged children play video games.
It is a shame Doc Gibbs could not have a word with
each of them, and perhaps sadder yet that he should have
to.

The ending graveyard scene is pensive and serene.  The abstract
allegory's of the living are presented in the boundless inspirations of life.

I always liked Thornton Wilder's play since I can remember
and the Village Players have added another pleasant
memory to the Wilder story.

Thank you Mr. Wilder and thank you Village Players..

 OAK PARK Village Players Theatre launches their fifth show
of the season, Our Town, a dramatic work by Thornton Wilder.
Performances continue through March 31 at the Village Players
Theatre, 1010 W. Madison.  Tickets are available by calling
the box  office at (708) 222-0369.

 Our Town, by Thornton Wilder, is an American classic, expressing
with warmth and humor the eternal truths of human existence.
It is a heartening, compassionate glimpse of that time before
the Great Wars; before our innocence was lost forever. From
the time of its first performances in 1938, it has continued
to be regarded as one of the best representations of life in
America and of the richness of our theatre world. For decades
it has remained a landmark of theatrical craftsmanship and
a loving picture of American life. Our Town vibrates even
stronger within America following the recent events and trials
America has and is going through. Our need for community and
companionship has never been stronger and our rising respect
for our serviceman and ultimately our country reflects what
is right about the United States of America. As we watch our
servicemen head oversees the lines by the Stage Manager
resonates even stronger, Over there are some Civil War
veterans.  iron flags on their graves...New Hampshire boys...
had a notion that the Union ought to be kept together, though
they'd never seen more than fifty miles of it themselves.  All
they knew was the name, friends--the United States of America.
The United States of America.  And they went and died about it.
 

 The Village Players Theatre production of Our Town will be
directed by Chicago Director David M. Schmitz who directed
the successful production of The Diary of Anne Frank last
season at the Village Players. The professional cast consists
of Kristin Williams, Molly Meehan, Brad Burton, Vivian Tedford,
Patrick Feeney, Jackie Sidle, Charles A. Berglund,
Charlotte Todd, Robin Drechsler, Larry Carani, Daniel J. DeVito,
Chuck Greenia, Fancesca Peppiatt and Chip Reid.

 There will be two special performances of
Our Town of note:

 There will be a matinee performance for Junior High and High
School students on Wed. Feb 6th at 10:00 AM. Group rates are
available, contact the Village Players office at 708-524-1892
for information and reservations.

  Village Players Theatre is a non-profit organization currently
in it’s 41st season as a premier live theater option and theater
school for Oak Park, River Forest, and other near west suburban
communities including Maywood, Melrose Park, Berwyn and Cicero.
The mission of the Village Players Theatre is to promote the
cultural arts through education and public performances.

  In 1961, an artistic group of dedicated, hard working-performers
and technicians formed the Oak Park-River Forest Civic Theatre, Inc.,
setting up shop in a local  storefront.  These pioneers valued quality
productions and artistic independence.  Following the first production,
“The Crucible,” the group changed its name to the  Village Players and
began several years of 2-3 productions per year.  By 1966 a larger space
was rented at 441 South Boulevard to accommodate a full season of
shows.  In 1984 the group pursued the dream of purchasing their own
theater building and acquired the space at 1010 West Madison Street
in Oak Park.  This same tax-exempt organization now operates under
the name “Village Players Theatre.”

 Village Players Theatre presents Thornton Wilder’s – Our Town,
March 1 through March 31 at the Village Players Theater,
1010 W. Madison, Oak Park IL.

 Opening night Friday, March. 1 at 8 p.m.  Performance times are
Fridays and Saturdays at 8 p.m. and Sundays at 3 p.m. Tickets are
$8.00 - $18.00.    For tickets  and more information call the box
office at (708) 202-0369 or visit www.village-players.org.
 
 
 
 
 
 

Village Players Theater
 1010 West Madison
Oak Park, Illinois

Reservations: 708-524-1892

 "Our mission is to promote the cultural arts through education and
public performances.  We have a unique and  valuable performance
venue, and we will strive to continue to bring variety and quality to
our productions.  Those  artistic achievements that have endured
over these many years are due to the generosity of the theater going
public,  and we hope we can count on their valued support for our
41st season and in the years to come."  Village Players Theater