Sydney Theatre Company presents
Our Town
by Thornton Wilder
It’s 1901. Grover’s Corners, New Hampshire. Welcome to Our Town.
A small American town like any other; simple, sleepy and cheerful. People here are like people anywhere else: they are born, they fall in love, they die. Ordinary people leading ordinary lives. Or so we might believe, until the Stage Manager – our guide for the evening – takes us on a tour of the town and we begin to glimpse how extraordinary even the most ordinary of lives can be.
Sliding between the past, the present and the future, we follow George and Emily – one of the most winsome couples in theatrical history – as they grow up, fall in love, marry and start their own family.
Thornton Wilder’s Pulitzer Prize-winning play from 1938 makes an affecting philosophical case for relishing life in the here and now. Heart-warming and humorous, Our Town celebrates the everyday and is a powerful call to appreciate life while we are in it.
www.thorntonwilder.com
2 Hours 40 Minutes, Including 2 Intervals
Reviews
“*****Our Town is a triumph for the STC: as a production as well as a bold choice of programming. It's the kind of show that just might make you see the world differently. When it comes to the theatre, you can't say fairer than that.” Time Out Sydney
"Director Iain Sinclair has done a wondrous job with the play....Our Town is one to savour slowly and often" - Stage Noise
“Funny, sweet, wry and poignant, Our Town is all these things and more” – Concrete Playground
“Thornton Wilder’s classic play about lost time seems to come from another age now, but lain Sinclair’s beautifully realised production reveals how deeply embedded its values are in our cultural memory” – The Australian
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Saw Wed's production and loved it. Our Town has always been a favourite script, but it was wonderful to see it come to life. Particularly admired Darren Gishenan - whose career my family has been following since "Big River" - and Ashleigh Cummings and the actor who played Mr Webb. All the best for the future and congratulations - Vivienne
Quite outstanding play. The presence of a narrator was superb and gave it a strong feel of 'story telling'. The 3 acts were quite superb. Performances excellent, sounds effects a real treat and the minimal set, quite appropriate. Terrific. Thank you. - Neil
This was one of the best nights of theatre this year. Beautifully directed and the actors transport me into another world. Thank you to all involved. - Charmeon
WE enjoyed Our Town immensely. What a fabulous piece of theatre and how beautifully apt it still is today - a testament to Wilder and the production. The narrator and "non-scenery" technique still works totally. We were also thrilled to have picked it as one to take our 13 year old to - good to see such a beautifully crafted and superbly acted production of a play she could fully understand -her concentration didn't waver for a moment. thank you! - Meredith
My group enjoyed "Our Town". We had been to "The Trial" the previous week and it took a few hours to a couple of days for people to find that play grow on them. But 'Our Town' immediately appealed to some of the group who loved its whimsy and unique New England flavour. It reminds me of the beautiful and gentle countryside of that part of the States. It is here that one can find the home of Robert Frost and D J Salinger. There are many other literary notables who emerged from this part of the country. We all thought the play could be retitled "Births, Marriages and Deaths". If you are into the simple rhythms of life and innate goodness of people the play will appeal. On the other hand, "The Trial' was a more challenging night out. - Susan
Far better than the recent American August, although I thought it was terrific. Our Town was beautifully staged and moved me greatly and thoughtfully. All actors were superb and I loved the way Darren Gilshenan twinkled out and pulled me in to relate to him and his townspeople. - Gillian
Stunningly good. Brilliantly engineered Spartan set (apart from that wonderful final scene) and superb one man classical chorus. The cast was magical and interacted with an immediacy you always hope for but don't always get. - Don
Having seen about 20 plays this year it was a breadth of fresh air to relish this play. The story itself sounded a little boring but the prod- uction and acting was superb. A tremendous night at the theatre. Even though the plight of woman was so awful I think we are much luckier now. - Sue
I found Our Town a sincerely warm and loving production. I remember a production(late 50's or early 60's) at the Genesian Theatre, Sydney, and I basked in the memories thus evoked.The cast were uniformly good. I left the theatre with a warm glow, happy memories, and deeply appreciative of the opportunity to see this classic of America theatre writing again. Thank you, STC! - Barry
I enjoyed the play, however myself and my three friends found overall that the play was far too long. The first 2 acts were unecessarily too slow in introducing us to "our town". However the acting was wonderful and the final act was amazing with the cemetary scene highlighting the important things in our lives. - Liane
Funny, poignant - especially loved "The Stage Manager" very original - an over 2 hour play with 2 intervals went very quickly - we enjoyed the experience very much. - Elise
A wonderful production. Very true to Wilder's image of simplicity of set, letting the play speak to us! - Fran
Deceptively simple profound and wise. I was very moved by the final act - it touches the core of being human. At the same time, there were lovely light hearted and comic moments with tender appreciation for these characters, these people who were both themselves and like us all. Wonderfully acted by all - especially in my memory by Maeve Dermody Christopher Stollery and Robin Goldsworthy. But all good, and a terrific production. THANK YOU! - Sophie
Thoroughly enjoyed the play, and found it very moving. On looking it all up on Google, I saw that Thornton Wilder had wanted it staged just like that with no scenery, and only the imagination! - Liz
My group enjoyed "Our Town". We had been to "The Trial" the previous week and it took a few hours to a couple of days for people to find that play grow on them. But 'Our Town' immediately appealed to some of the group who loved its whimsy and unique New England flavour. It reminds me of the beautiful and gentle countryside of that part of the States. It is here that one can find the home of Robert Frost and D J Salinger. There are many other literary notables who emerged from this part of the country. We all thought the play could be retitled "Births, Marriages and Deaths". If you are into the simple rhythms of life and innate goodness of people the play will appeal. On the other hand, "The Trial' was a more challenging night out. - Susan
Beautiful production, where less means more. Eight chairs on stage, but I can see the town. Fabulous performances, and the third act brings everything together so poignantly, with an ending that is haunting me still. - Karen
I thought it was the best production the STC has done since 'When the Rain Stops Falling' The last act, in particular, was profoundly moving. Congratulations all around. - Madeleine
Loved it !!! Thornton Wilder is a subtle genius and the Sydney cast did him proud. One of the all time best contemporary plays and should be seen by all! - Mary
