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Our Town Reviews
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Best thing I've seen in AGES!!!!!!!!!!! Review by: LuLu, May 9, 2010 |
| Innovative, outstanding production |
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My recommendation:
must see!
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Recommended for:
Romantic Date, The Entire Family, Seniors
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"Our Town" Review by: Tom Bestor, Feb 16, 2010 |
I've long believed that a good definition for "art" is: "life...to scale." In making art we attempt to expand or compress time or reality -- or both -- in order to make clearer to ourselves and others some aspect of existence. To make some part of the human condition more accessible.
The production of Thornton Wilder's "Our Town" at the Barrow Street Theater is one of those rare works of art that is scaled just right. ... read more Time and reality are expanded and compressed just the right amount in just the right ways to create an experience that is both the epitome of the theatrical experience and something I've never really felt before in a theater. The boundary between audience and players are blurred throughout - and occasionally erased almost completely.
The Stage Manager, played by Jason Butler Harner, speaks directly with the audience in a natural, comfortable way. He looks to us for our opinions, even manages to cast several of the audience in the performance by handing them cards with questions to read. A cast member exiting said "Good evening, Miss Holcombe" to one audience member and "How ya doin' Stew" to another. (Or something along to those lines.) One row of seats can be said to be on stage, even though it's on the exact same level as the next row of seats behind it.
What both director David Cromer (who originated the role of the Stage Manager in this production) and Thorton Wilder have succeeded in doing in this specific instance of art is to remind us of our common humanity. Grover's Corners is, in fact, our town. It is our earth, our existence. It is what we all share -- and it is both mundane and magical, ordinary and awe-inspiring. Often at the same time.
This really is one you shouldn't miss. |
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Must See! Review by: Clarice, Feb 15, 2010 |
| Never having really attended many live theater performances, I was intrigued by this production - which I was "introduced" to via CBS Sunday Morning. The rather complete review posted earlier certainly defines the high points of this version. Aside from the actual written material, the beauty of this production was the elegantly "simple" staging. The relaxed atmosphere eliminated any sense of pretense - the time spent WITH the performers flew by,... read more, as they were incredibly honest in their delivery. I would encourage anyone to go OUR TOWN and experience this wonderful event. |
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| 4 |
Your Town Review by: Brenda, Aug 10, 2009 |
A show of hands of those of us who aren't really the least bit intrigued by yet another production of _Our Town_. Look closely and you will see my had frantically waving in the back. This Thorton Wilder gem has been staged by well meaning community theatres, eager High School English teachers, a few edgy prison program directors and even a 1980s sitcom. We all know it backward and forward, and have ceased to see the delicacy of Wilder's work. ... read more Have I got the remedy for you.
The Barrow Street Theatre has brought the Hypocrites (Chicago) production, with full cast, to New York. David Cromer (upcoming _Brighton Beach Memoirs_ and _Broadway Bound_) directs this fresh and modern interpretation of the 1938 _Our Town_. Cromer, not only brings a clean and engrossing production to the stage, he also manages it. He is most brilliant in the role of the stage manager.
While the cast is engaging and quite talented, it is the staging that is the star of this production. Set on a thrust stage (which is actually just the floor of the center of the room) the audience is surrounding (and sometimes IN) the action on three sides. Cromer keeps the houselights up the entire time, dimming them slightly in the third act. This device is not nearly as distracting as one would think. Even with Judd Hirsch sitting directly across from me, my attention was focused on the _Our Town_ actors. This was partly due to the fabulous use of space. The choir congregates and sings on a wide fly above the stage. This gives the audience a new place to focus from time to time. Actors use the thrust floor space as if it is an actual town square. Actors weave in and out of the audience in the most naturalistic of manner. There is nothing self conscious or contrived about the device.
The stage manager's affect and use of cell phone, combined with the modern day dress of the cast, gives the whole production a sense of the present. While undoubtedly set in the thirties (evident by milk delivered by horse) there was only a sense of modern day small town throughout the production.
Three acts can seem daunting to the average theatre goer, but the evening simply flew by. This is a production not to be missed. It will make you think differently about this American classic and will leave you with a sense of wonder about the experience of true creativity. Mr. Cromer is someone to watch. |
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must see!
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| 5 |
Very well-directed, engaging production Review by: Frisbie, Feb 22, 2009 |
| We were very impressed by this production. Our Town, frankly, can be a little tricky to pull off because it can be a little too dry and slow for modern tastes. This production was faithful to the original, yet it maintained great pacing, brought out a little humor in Wilder's dialogue, used the entire theater area well, and relied on strong acting across the board. The result was an engaging, briskly-paced, enjoyable production. ... read more We would strong recommend this play. |
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My recommendation:
must see!
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I saw this show with:
Spouse/Partner
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Recommended for:
Anyone
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| * Review is an opinion of a BroadwayBox user and not that of BroadwayBox.com and BroadwayBox, Inc. |
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