Competent cast at UM breathes new life into `Our Town’

In this time of fierce patriotism, Thornton Wilder’s “Our Town,” playing through Sunday at the University of Maine, is yet another idealized view of the simplicity and clarity of American values.

Set in the small town of Grovers Corners, N.H., during the early years of the 20th century, the play professes to be a historical record of the growing up, marrying, living and dying of strong-minded, hard-working, blue-blood families. These are folks who pump their own water, feed the chickens in their back yards, and name their horses Bessie. Of course, there’s nothing ignoble about any of this; it’s just not as interesting as it might have been more than 50 years ago when the play won a Pulitzer Prize.

The sparse stage and mimed props constantly make us aware of the artificiality of this drama, yet we are asked to believe in its realness and notions about universal human experience. It is life stripped to its essentials — of the American sort. Vacations in Gettysburg, late nights at choir practice, and happy, happy weddings are the events that make life good in Grovers Corners. It’s not a riveting scene, but it keeps people close to the land, close to their God and out of trouble. Well, there is one town drunk, but he stirs more gossip than anything else.

In its day, “Our Town” was considered fresh and uplifting. Now it seems terribly nostalgic and unremarkable. However, director J. Norman Wilkinson has woven together a straightforward production with a competent cast for a fairly quick-paced evening of Americana. Amid some rather bland happenings and people, there is humor and sweetness. Unfortunately, some lines are lost because of overly loud music or poorly projected voices, and Wilkinson’s staging is disappointingly symmetrical. But the show is forthright, and the young actors work together well as an ensemble.

The on-stage events are orchestrated by the Stage Manager, an omniscient emcee who guides us along Main Street, through 12 years of extremely gradual changes, and, finally, to the hilltop cemetery, where the conversations among Grovers Corners’ dead aren’t a whole lot different from conversations among the living. As the Stage Manager, Leland Witting is not terribly engaging, but he is as steady as the 5:45 a.m. train for Boston.

None of the performers stands out in any striking fashion, which is perhaps in keeping with the staidness of this script. Yet, a few offer notable performances. You can nearly hear the pitter-patter of young hearts in love when Aaron D. Jones as George and Leslie Anne Gamble as Emily exchange strawberry ice cream sodas on their first date. Their on-stage romance adds much energy and pleasantry to the show. In bit parts, Andrew Mansfield (Professor Willard), Nathaniel Packard (Simon Stimson), and Lisa Hunt (Mrs. Soames) are entertaining and fun to watch.

Joseph William Ritsch, M. Kerry Campbell, Susan Allen, and David M.C. Petty are competent in the lead roles, but are often distracting with their zealous miming.

“Our Town” will be performed at 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday, April 26 and 27, and 2 p.m. Friday and Sunday, April 26 and 28, at Hauck Auditorium, University of Maine. For tickets, call 581-1755.