Our Town was wonderful.
It was heartwarming, heartbreaking, poignant, funny, life-affirming, universal. The cast was uniformly excellent, including my husband, who astounds me each and every time I see him onstage. The perfect Dr. Gibbs.
The two young actors who played George and Emily were simply amazing. They broke my heart. I got to meet everyone backstage after the show and I’m sure I gushed – couldn’t help it. As always, theater is a small world. The young woman who played Emily is close friends with the young woman who plays Ophelia in Hamlet. The woman who plays the Stage Manager is very close to the woman who plays Gertrude in Hamlet. I love that about theater.
Our Town is sometimes thought of as that play everyone has seen or done, or the play that was done when you were in high school, or an old-fashioned play that doesn’t resonate today. I beg to differ: It’s one of the greatest American plays ever written. Simple, yet complex. About a small town, but about every town, every city, every place. Heartbreakingly profound. Brilliantly written by the incredible Thornton Wilder.
I confess, I hadn’t read it in years and I told Don I wasn’t sure I’d ever seen a full production, so the whole experience was deeply powerful for me. Luckily, I had my kleenex in hand for the last act, because I needed it. For those of you who haven’t read or seen Our Town, I will just say that the last act takes place in a cemetery. Thoughts of my mother, my brother and all those dear to me who have made their transition couldn’t help but come to the surface. Oh my goodness, it’s so moving.
I’m proud of my husband. His work is always excellent and he makes it look easy. Believe me – it isn’t.
We drove back here to Hartford after the show and a little girl got to see her dad. She did a few little jumps of joy, which tells you how happy she was to see him. We all took a walk in the park. I made some scrambled eggs and toast. We sat on the sofa and cuddled for a wee bit. Then the Hill-Sparks family hit the hay. We’re both more than a bit sleep deprived, so this will be a low-key day, just hanging out and enjoying our little family being back together after six weeks apart.
I got to New Haven with just enough time to spare to run into IKEA (which is just down the road from the theater) and get a new Ektorp slipcover for my blogging chair. It isn’t a great fit, but it does the trick until the day comes (will it ever?) when I have enough money to get the chair reupholstered. Since I’ve had it for about 15 years, and it’s quite old, I’m not holding my breath. I also bought a mug for Don to use while he’s here because the mugs supplied by the theater are too small and the handles are way too small for Don’s fingers. I would love to have had the time to look at all the displays but I was on a mission and I had only 20 minutes to power walk through the endless aisles to find what I needed.
Today we were jarred awake at 6:30 by the endless sounds of trucks backing up. More crane work. There has been construction work right next to Don’s building the whole time he’s been in New Haven, so we both feel inundated with constant noise. Really? They need to start work at 6:30 am? In Don’s case, he was woken one night at 1 am by trucks unloading and voices shouting. Are you kidding me?
Which begs the question: What happened to basic civility? Don’t bother, I already know the answer. It’s becoming a thing of the past.
Ending on a positive note: Don is here!
(Book Review today on Just Let Me Finish This Page: a wonderful satire, Lost for Words. Stop by!)
Happy Monday.
It sounds like a magical evening! Such a talented family.
It’s too bad about all the noise/disruption. We’ve had roofers directly above us for two weeks now with a 7 a.m. start each day (even on Sunday). The weather here necessitates the urgency. It’s hard on us, but hard on the crew as well. On the up side, I’m told that the cranes will eventually migrate and then I’ll be able to once again level my paintings.
Enjoy your day together!
I wish these cranes would migrate! Of course they will: on Saturday when I leave town.
Happy to hear your family is one again. Enjoy! Hugs to all
Thanks, Nancy!
Hope the three of you have a wonderful day together — enjoy!
Thank you, Vera!
I’m so glad you got to see Don in Our Town and that you now finally have a little time together. Noise outside my room especially so early (or 1:30 a.m.?!) would drive me batty.
It’s driving us both batty. Can’t wait for the (relative) quiet of home!
well CONGRATS to don on his play..wish i could have seen it!! now you ‘cuddle bugs” enjoy your day together the 3 of you…we have a BEAUTIFUL sunshine/fall day here..hope yours is as well…
Cold, but lovely here, Sharon.
What a wonderful night for all of you! I’ve never seen the play Our Town and would love too. I’ll keep an eye out for a local production around here. So glad you are together even for such a short time. I hate that the construction is stealing your rest time. I’m just smiling thinking of you all together today.
hugs,
Linda
We’re having a nice day. Don and I are about to take a little walk to the theater.
I hope you three have a amazing day.
Thank you, Kathleen.
Ah…the happy threesome! So glad everything went as planned! I’m sure it must be wonderful for you to see Don act in person. Hope you have a wonderful relaxing day…you both deserve it! ;)
I never get tired of seeing his work, Donnamae.
Have a wonderful day celebrating your family being together again. Hope your day is an amazing one. I’m sure Scout’s heart is soaring having you both with her on a walk. It is the little things that make our heart sing.
Yes. She’s loving it.
We wanted to do Our Town when I was in high school. Sadly we did not have enough money for the royalties. We instead did 17th Summer. I played the mother of a 17 year old. I remember how I was made up. Years later when I had a 17 year old daughter in real life, I looked nothing like the one in the play! And that’s a good thing!:-) I still wish we could have done Our Town.
We never did Our Town when I was in high school – lots of others, but not that play. I would have loved to have been in it.
I watched the trailer for “Our Town” and it totally left me wanting to see more..Wouldn’t you love to just stick your head out the window and yell “QUIET”..lol..I know you would never but it would feel good wouldn’t it?..Have a great day together..Hugs..
Thank you, Nancy!
I love “Our Town” too. A wonderful play and an absolutely timeless piece of art. Gets me every single time. First saw the 1940 movie version on TV one rainy Sunday afternoon when I was in college [I think]. William Holden [just a baby at the time], Martha Scott, Beulah Bondi, Thomas Mitchell, Fay Bainter, Guy Kibbee. Every single character to me was spot-on perfect. I watched the trailer you included a few days ago and like that Don’s production is multi-racial. Makes it even more relevant and interesting. Break a leg, Don!
PS – gotta say construction at 1 am is pushing it. In my area, highway crews will work evenings and wee hours, obviously to avoid traffic issues. But I can’t imagine what benefit there is to having crews working at that hour in the middle of a city. Maybe there’s a bonus involved if it’s done on time and under-budget or something like that ?? Enjoy your day together [I know you will].
I don’t know if there are bonuses, but in both cases all the construction is right next to apartment buildings where lots of people live. It’s insensitive, at the very least.
Most towns and cities have a noise ordinance. Maybe the apartment manager could look into that and ask to have it enforced.
On a happier note, I hope that the three of you are having a lovely and relaxing day together!
Not worth it. We are only temporary tenants here.
And I’m leaving on Saturday!