Inside Iowa State

Sept. 22, 2006

Script packs emotional punch in ISU Theatre's Our Town

by Dave Gieseke, LAS Public Relations

Only a few pieces of scenery dot the stage. A ladder represents the second floor of a house. A bare stage has become synonymous with Our Town, the Thornton Wilder American classic play set in the early 1900s in fictitious Grovers Corners, N.H.

"Part of what makes Our Town so wonderful is that the stage is practically bare," said Jane Cox of ISU Theatre and the play's director. "While the costumes are realistic for the era, the emphasis in Our Town is on acting and emotions."

ISU Theatre will present Our Town over two weekends in Fisher Theater. The Friday and Saturday performances (Sept. 29-30 and Oct. 6-7) begin at 7:30 p.m. Matinee productions on Sunday, Oct. 1 and 8, begin at 2 p.m.

Wilder's play, first performed in New York City in February 1938, won the Pulitzer Prize for drama that year. It is known for its "stage manager" role, a person who provides narration to the story and also prods audience members to reflect on what they're watching.

The play opens with the stage manager setting the scene, "The date is May 7, 1901, just before dawn." In three acts -- Daily Life, Marriage and Love, and Death -- it details interactions between citizens of the small town, particularly the lives of George Gibbs, a doctor's son, and Emily Webb, the newspaper editor's daughter, who grow up next door to each other and marry as young adults.

"I think Our Town appeals to every generation," Cox said. "It looks at daily life, love, death and eternity. Thornton Wilder writes about two families and their life experiences.

"The hearts and souls of these characters is what's important. The love and tragedy that the characters experience is the same as we experience today and will long into the future," she said. "Anyone who sees Our Town recognizes something about themselves in the script."

Cox first saw Our Town in Denver as a high school student.

"It was the very first professional production I saw," she said, "and it really changed my life. This play made me determined to live a life where I notice life around me and enjoy the simple things."

Key cast members include Joel Perkins as the stage manager, Malary Harris as Emily Webb, Matthew Lampe as George Gibbs, Jeff Mason as Dr. Gibbs, Carrie Taylor as Mrs. Gibbs, Jack Klein as Mr. Webb and Genya Coffey as Mrs. Webb.

Tickets are on sale at the Iowa State Center ticket office and are $13 for adults, $12 for seniors and $7 for students and children. Tickets also may also be purchased by phone, 4-3347.

"The hearts and souls of these characters is what's important. The love and tragedy that the characters experience is the same as we experience today and will long into the future."

Jane Cox, director