Tuesday, October 30, 2007

Our Town

The play was really wonderful. All of the kids were fantastic in their roles. Kevin, the young man who played the stage manager and narrated the play was amazing. Sometimes when you see kids take on a play as sophisticated and stylized as "Our Town", the result is lackluster. But this young man committed himself to the role and had no inhibitions about the way he might appear onstage. He set the tone for the whole play. I was impressed.







The play is staged with minimal sets and no props. Our lovely daughter came down a set of stairs to the raised platform holding a table and chairs that served as her home. She pantomimed her way through making breakfast as Kevin narrated the scene. When she called to her "children" halfway through the scene, I was startled by her voice. She had changed her intonation and meter, and she sounded almost matronly. My husband leaned over and said, "She sounds just like you."





Apparently women spent a lot of time snapping beans at the turn of the century. And cooking. Other than attending her "daughter's" wedding and funeral, our lovely daughter and the other young lady playing a mother were cooking or snapping beans most of the time they were on stage.





A heart to heart with her daughter, about falling in love. (They talk while snapping beans, of course.)




The mother of the bride had a little monologue. Standing on stage in the spotlight, she voiced her concerns, worries and hopes for her daughter's impending marriage.

I don't have a good shot of it, but one of the most poignant moments in the play, for me anyway, came during the funeral scene in the third act. My daughter had no lines, but she was grieving, held in the arms of her daughter's husband. I could see her shoulders shaking. She was clutching at the young man's shoulders as he held her and seemed to whisper in her ear. I was quite surprised how much emotion she was able to convey with her back to the audience.




It was only later that she told me the young man spent the entire time telling her that he had killed his wife, and how, varying his method during each funeral scene. She was laughing, and trying desperately not to laugh out loud.



When the poor, dead girl left her grave and returned home to re-experience her twelfth birthday, it was heart wrenching. I have to admit to shedding a few tears.


"Way down deep, there is something that's eternal about every human being." Indeed.



This shot is of the entire cast and the crew. Our lovely daugher is middle left in her mama costume.

12 comments:

She's like the wind said...

Sounds great and the pictures are fantastic. x

wakeupandsmellthecoffee said...

You must feel very proud. I was there with you watching the play. If it were my daughter, I'm not sure I'd be able to focus the camera for all my tears. Your photos turned out beautifully.

Kim said...

It was wonderful. I can't take credit for the pictures, self employed mum. We weren't allowed to have cameras on the night of the play. These were taken during a dress rehearsal by the drama teacher.

I am very proud of her, coffee. She is quite talented. Doesn't get the drama thing from me, though. I don't know where it came from.

laurie said...

oh how lovely! and how sweet that she channeled you for her role.

i can just imagine how your heart swelled as you watched her act.

and by the way....my little sister's birthday is today. i remember the night she was born. before she went to the hospital my mother sat on a stool in the kitchen....snapping beans.

the rotten correspondent said...

This is the upside of the kid craziness. When you get to sit there and watch this amazing person do amazing things - without you...

It may be the best feeling in the world.

Congratulations on such a terrific time. It almost makes up for the laptop, doesn't it?

Kim said...

That's funy, Laurie. I don't think I've ever snapped beans in my life.

Yes, RC, you're right. It does almost make up for the laptop. Almost.

elizabethm said...

sounds a wonderful event and you must be very proud.
I am feeling embarrassed that I only just found that back in September you gave me an award and I never noticed or thanked you for it. Just going back and doing some catching up and came upon it by surprise.
thank you so much. I am very flattered and grateful!

Kim said...

Elizabeth, it was wonderful to see how well she did, and the play was very well done.

You're more than welcome, Elizabeth. I really enjoy your blog.

Manic Mother Of Five said...

Have so many happy memories of school productions. Bet she had a ball. Get all choked when I watch one of mine doing something on stage. See, aren't you glad you didn't exact revenge for the laptop!

Thanks so much for the explanation about the sooner state - that was fascinating.

By the way, think I have had a bit of a satellite delay - I see you have a schnauzer - we have 3 in the family. Sister in law has a big and little one and ma in law has a minature. They are cute little things. I just have kids and a husband - enough for me!!!!

Kim said...

I remember ours fondly, too, but I was always in the orchestra pit. (A little too grand a term for what we did, I'm sure.)

I am glad you enjoyed that explanation. I felt a little like a teacher spouting off.

Our Jack is a miniature. He will have a sister soon. We're waiting for the puppies to be born.

Swearing Mother said...

Lovely photos, looks like it was great. I miss those performances!

Crystal Jigsaw said...

Thank you for taking us to the theatre. Lovely photos. You must be a very proud mum indeed.

Crystal xx