Almost, Maine

John Cariani
January 13 - February 7, 2010
Stiemke Theater

A NIGHT OF LOVE, LOSS AND MAGIC
UNDER THE NORTHERN LIGHTS

ALMOST, MAINE tells the stories of fictional town Almost, nestled high in snowy northern Maine, miles from the ocean (and the lobsters). On one snowy night, Aurora Borealis shines down on the almost-town causing strange happenings, some challenging, some wonderful. Told through a series of nine stories, the experiences of the people of Almost run the emotional gamut.

One woman finds love in the most unlikely of places: as she pays respects to her deceased husband. One man has a condition which makes him unable to experience pain, that is until the right person comes along . . . wielding an ironing board. While one couple waits anxiously for the other shoe to drop in their marriage, across town a couple of best friends take the first
tentative steps towards romance. In this play love is at times shocking, icy, slippery and hard, but it is also thrilling, refreshing and as full of possibilities as a fresh snowfall. Directed by Rep Resident Acting Company Member Laura Gordon, straight off of her success in THE LADY WITH ALL THE
ANSWERS, and featuring Company Members Gerard Neugent and Deborah Staples, this is sure to be a night to remember.

Gordon recently answered some questions for Literary Intern Zoë Cohen on the joys and challenges of directing, and why ALMOST, MAINE is more than just "the perfect date show."

Zoë Cohen: Many of our patrons may know you better as a member of our Resident Acting Company than as a director. How does your process as a director differ from your process as an actor? Do you have a preference for one or the other?

Laura Gordon: I really enjoy both acting and directing. The wonderful thing about directing is the opportunity to work with the actors as well as with the design team . . . and all the collaborators, helping to bring a full production together. Every time I direct a play I learn (or relearn) something about acting.

ZC: What attracted you to ALMOST, MAINE? Did you know immediately that this was a project you were interested in directing, or did it take some time?

LG: I was interested in the play from the beginning. But I really got excited about it when I began to visualize specific actors in the roles. I could picture Gerry Neugent and Elizabeth Ledo doing a certain scene and that’s when it came together for me.

ZC: Have you ever been to Maine?

LG: I have been to Maine . . . but only to the southern part of the state, along the coast. The play takes place in remote northern Maine, far away from the ocean and the lobsters. I've never been there.

ZC: Playwright John Cariani seems very concerned that theses characters be portrayed without stereotype or disrespect, writing: "The people of Almost, Maine are ordinary people. They work hard for a living. They are extremely dignified. They are honest and true. They are not cynical. They are not sarcastic. They are not glib. But this does not mean that they’re dumb. . . ." Do you see a connection between the people of Almost to Midwesterners, or even more specifically, to Wisconsinites?

LG: Indeed! I think all these characters are recognizable to any audience, but I do think there’s a certain Midwest sensibility . . . and a Wisconsin sensibility that seems very similar to Northern Maine.

ZC: Gerry Neugent and Deborah Staples are featured in this show. What is it like to direct fellow Resident Acting Company Members?

LG: I love directing actors I know. I know how they work. I respect their experience. I try to encourage them to stretch in ways that I know they're capable of.

ZC: Cariani writes: "I think ALMOST, MAINE can best be described as a midwinter night's dream. Or as a romance. A really funny, really sad romance." Is this the perfect date show?

LG: I like that description . . . a midwinter night's dream. It also strikes me as a kind of magical realism . . . far north of the border. I think it will be a great date show. But it's appeal is broader than that.

ZC: He also insists that "'cute' will kill this play." How do you plan to address "the cute factor" in your production?

LG: The play is certainly about love. But it’s a subject that is bittersweet. I think the playwright has done a beautiful job examining love from lots of different angles. The sweet sort of takes care of itself. I'm interested in the bitter that goes along with it.

Treat yourself to an early Valentines Day this winter, northern Maine style. Love is in the air, and so are the northern lights, as the citizens of Almost wander through this bittersweet midwinter night's dream.

THE REP IN DEPTH
Join us for The Rep In Depth, our lively informative half-hour talk which starts 45 minutes before every performance in the Stiemke Theater.