Our Town
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http://www.huntershilltheatre.com.au/2019-town
22/11/2019 until 01/12/2019
Review written by Cassie Cheeseman
Offering an escape to a simpler time, Our Town is now playing at Hunters Hill Theatre. Featuring an ensemble cast that fills the stage, Our Town is a fantastic exploration into the ebb and flow of daily life.
Our Town is set in a fictional community in New Hampshire, 1901. Yet the plays quaint nature and exploration into the day to day, means it would be at home being set in almost any town. Our Town runs in three parts; Act 1 considers the daily life and introduces the audience to each of the main characters. Act 2 then sees the town of Grover’s Corners come alive with activity as main characters George (played by Jasper Kyle) and Emily (played by Hayley Watkins) prepare for their upcoming nuptials. Finally, Act 3 gives a devastating blow with the death of a main character and watches the ripple effect it has for the community. Poignant and delicate in its treatment of the subject matter, Our Town offers many lessons to the astute audience member, in particular the importance of being mindful through life’s every moment.
The entire cast was spectacular with each actor playing their role with conviction and artistry. As a cohesive unit the cast shines bright and every single member is deserving of applause. Particularly impressive was the commitment of the cast to utilising accents reminiscent of historic American towns. This undoubtedly required significant practice from the cast and it pays off in allowing the audience to really absorb into the story.
Our Town poses significant challenge for scene setting, however Hunters Hill Theatre rises to the occasion. Carefully placed props ensure the audience can follow where each scene is set, and the prop changes throughout the Acts are well considered and appropriate. Each prop is unique and enhances the story, such as the choice to have out of scene actors make noises as the in scene actors mime the action, (think milk bottles clinking in the background while the in scene actors mimes picking up bottles). The lighting in Act 3 is especially noteworthy and used effectively to demonstrate the change in the plays mood and tempo. Essential to mention is the fantastic costume designs which beautifully match the plays environment and each individual character’s personality.
With a fantastic cast and an intimate story, Our Town is an excellent production which leaves the audience feeling relaxed and introspective about the musings of life. A play that has stood the test of time, there is no better place to experience it than at Hunters Hill Theatre.
Hunters Hill Theatre consistently offer a diverse range of enjoyable theatre productions. As they come into their 90th year in 2020, it is guaranteed to be a not-to-miss season.