The Milwaukee Post

16 • Milwaukee County Post • April 20, 2018 ENTERTAINMENT By JULIE MCHALE Post Theater Critic "Our Town," one of my all-time favorite plays, was penned by a Wisconsin native, Thornton Wilder, whose classic story has enjoyed immense success, having been translated into 70 languages, made into a film and a TV production, and attracted such stars as Paul Newman, Hal Holbrook and Frank Sinatra to star in it. It will probably live forev- er. Though it was written in 1938, it still resonates in our world, which is far different from the one he envisioned in Grover Corners, N.H., in 1901. The story covers a stretch of 12 years and deals with the "extraordinary ordinariness" of human life — its repetitive routines, the humdrum and sometimes difficult patterns of love, marriage, parenting, and death, realities that touch all of us. Wilder strips away the nonessentials and forces us to look at these daily events and cherish them more. One of the most touching lines in the whole play for me is the one uttered by Emily (Cher Desiree Alvarez) when she is allowed to return to earth for one day after she dies, and she chooses her twelfth birthday. She says to her mother who is busily preparing breakfast, "Mama, just look at me one minute as though you really saw me." Life is precarious and pre- cious, qualities we some- times forget and need to be reminded of. This production takes some liberties with Wilder's original intent. I wonder if Wilder would have approved of those overblown ladders instead of two simple ones. One of the technical innova- tions in this play is its use of the barest scenery and mini- mal use of props. Our imagi- nation is supposed to supple- ment their absence. Instead, motions and occasional sound effects are used to cre- ate realities. I struggled with some of Director Brent Hazelton's choices — using a woman as narrator (Laura Gordon) and having two interracial mar- riages (The Gibbses — Chiké Johnson and Elizabeth Ledo) and George and Emily (DiMonte Henning and Alvarez) in the early 20th century when, unfortunately, it was still illegal in this country. I think he should have stuck to the realities of small-town America in the beginning of the 20th centu- ry. I loved the collection of many Milwaukee-based actors in the cast, many play- ing very small roles — Carrie Hitchcock as Professor Willard, James Pickering as the Constable Warren, and Jonathan Smoots as Joe Stoddard, the undertaker. Also included are several other familiar faces — Ledo, Rana Roman as Mrs. Webb, James Ridge as Simon Stimson, Johnson as Dr. Gibbs, and Henning. The standouts in this impres- sive group in their given roles are Henning and Ridge. There is a gentle humor in the script and some great one-liners. Doc Gibbs admits that his greatest fear in get- ting married was that "they'd run out of conversa- tion in a couple weeks" There is a plethora of quotable lines. You find yourself often thinking throughout the play, "Isn't that the truth." The production is largely enjoyable, despite my mis- givings. Submitted photo DiMonte Henning as George and Cher Desiree Alvarez as Emily as they begin to work on homework — and their relationship — in "Our Town" at the Milwaukee Rep. ☛ ☛ ☛ ☛ ☛ 260188005 National Be Kind to Animals Week is May 1-6, 2018 Enter your pet in our annual Cutest Pet Photo Contest! Cutest Pet PHOTO CONTEST GRAND PRIZE: If you are the winner you will receive a gift bag of goodies from our sponsors and your pet's picture will be published in the May 11 Milwaukee Post. Sponsored by: Pet Name___________________________Owner's Name _______________________________________ Address __________________________________________________________________________________ City_______________________________Zip_____________ Phone ________________________________ Comments _______________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________________________ Photo must be a recent photo, taken less than one year ago of your pet or pets. No professional photos please. Include self-addressed stamped envelope to return photos. Winning pet photo will be judged at random. EMAIL your photo including the above entry information to: mkepost@conleynet.com or MAIL entry to: Milwaukee Post, Attn: Cutest Pet Contest • 3397 S. Howell Ave., Milwaukee WI 53207. All entries must be received by: 5pm, Tuesday, May 8, 2018. Must call to claim prize by: 5pm, June 1, 2018. 'Our Town' captures the profound in everyday life "Our Town" The play runs through May 13 at the Milwaukee Rep Quadracci Powerhouse Theatre. 108 E. Wells St., Milwaukee. Call 414-291- 9490 or visit milwaukeerep.com. At a glance

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