The Brandeis Undergraduate Theater Collective’s recent production of Thornton Wilder’s “Our Town,” directed by Hannah “Phoenix” Feldman ’27, details the lives of the Webb and Gibbs families, along with the stories of several other people in Grover’s Corners, NH, in three beautifully done acts. As one of the most famous American plays, “Our Town” is no easy tale to tackle, but the company of the UTC’s production did a fantastic job. Also, spoilers ahead!
Franny Gindi-Chiafullo ’28 led the ensemble as the Stage Manager, someone who exists outside of the same pattern of time everyone else in the play follows. She was not only an excellent storyteller but also an evocative performer; her actions commanded both the timeline and the audience alike, and effectively drove the story forward. The Stage Manager guided the audience through time, specifically following George Gibbs (Luke Benanav ’29) and Emily Webb (Natalie Conklin ’29) as they grew up, fell in love and, in Emily’s case, eventually died. The most moving moment of the entire play was Emily’s third act monologue as she reflects on death, aging and the quickness of life, delivered incredibly by Conklin, and George’s following breakdown at her grave. The couple so desperately needed each other—the one thing they couldn’t have—and that was part of what made it so powerful.
Aging was touched on earlier in the show by Mrs. Webb (Lauren Pachter ’28) as she watched her daughter marry in another fantastically acted moment. The emotional reflection on what is a normal part of life added so much depth to not only her character, but to the theme of the human experience woven throughout the entire play. The chemistry between the entire cast was phenomenal, and they all delivered performances that make up the core of what “Our Town” is: a reflection on life itself. The technical aspects of “Our Town” were thoughtful and well-executed, too. The set, designed by Adi Mittler ’28, really made viewers feel like they were in Grover’s Corners, and living in the town alongside the characters. Isla Johns ’27 and Emmeline Beck ’27 created beautiful costumes that reflected the time period and enhanced the production, working in tandem with Lauren Meltzer’s ’28 prop design. It was clear that every decision in “Our Town” had been thought out and chosen well, and the result of the collaborative effort between the cast and crew was amazing.
