LBPH Opens "Our Town"

Our Town – the classic American drama by playwright Thornton Wilder opens this week at the Long Beach Playhouse. The play depicts the fictional, average town of Grovers Corners through the everyday lives of its residents. Keeping true to the premise of the play, LBPH’ s production utilized minimal sets (designed by Andrew Vonderschmitt) and almost no props. The actors mimed much of their physical actions, the only spectacle being the glorious costumes designed by Donna Fritsche. Director Sharyn Case leads the actors through solid performances. Brain J. Page is average, but dependable, as the stage manager, the only character permitted to break the fourth wall as the omnipotent narrator. He carries a strong vocal quality and visual presence, but seemed uncertain at times and lacked the proper enthusiasm to propel the story. Erica Farnsworth delivers a superb Emily Webb, just as Wilder would have intended her growth from innocence to adulthood and beyond. She asks, “Do any human beings ever realize life while they live it?—every, every minute?” Farnsworth deliveries subtleties only present in a veteran actress and a well-developed character arch. The play is a long three acts, for which the playwright intentionally paced the show to describe the transience of everyday life. While there are some pacing issues and a couple lack-luster performers, the LBPH delivers an authentic example of this masterpiece of the human condition, which every student of the theatre should attend.

Performances are 8 pm, Fri. & Sat, 2 pm, Sun. The play runs until March 6. Tickets are $12-22. The Playhouse is located at 5021 E. Anaheim St. For more info call 494-1014 or visit http://www.lbplayhouse.com/.