Review: 'Almost, Maine' by Goshen Players, Inc.

Pictured above: Rhiannon Carta and Daniel Dressel in "Sad and Glad" in ALMOST, MAINE

Dedicated to my tablemates Kelly White, Noel Roberge and Zach Cote and the rest of the cast of NEWSIES coming up at the Warner

Goshen, CT - Goshen Players launches the beginning of their 71st season with a fine production of the quirky play ALMOST, MAINE by John Cariani. Their tradition of bringing the best in community theatre entertainment started in 1949 with TRIAL BY JURY and continued with a show every spring until 2005, when they expanded their season to three productions each year in the historic Old Town Hall.

ALMOST, MAINE is a group of funny, touching stories about the residents of Almost, a town in Maine so far north that it’s almost in Canada. Goshen Players, Inc. President Lyne Wilson writes in the program that It is fun to watch these “individual stories weave together, fall apart and bring us to a place where love is always center.”

This play is both real and magical. It’s happy and sad. The characters are simple and at the same time complex. Each vignette ends with a beginning. It’s these contradictions that made the play such a joy to direct. This play is about love in all its glory and all of its tears. It’s about what is said and what isn’t said.” - Joe Guttadauro, Director of ALMOST MAINE

Joe Guttadauro (Greg in IT SHOULDA BEEN YOU) directed his first show for the Goshen Players with a close eye on the comedic aspects, while giving equal due to the quirky romance. I loved the opening where all of the characters crossed the stage Also evident was the easy conversation that the players maintained throughout the two acts of this series of “vignette duets.” I suppose that this should be expected in this piece, but the authentic conversational vibe made the performances even more memorable.

Also making this incarnation of ALMOST, MAINE memorable was the beautiful original music by Dan Koch that added so much to the transitions and the overall feel of the play, especially when it played in stereo through the speakers. Set design by Dan Ringuette, usually seen working on the music in community theatre, was just enough. The director was in charge of costume design that featured lots of warm clothes and made us feel like we were in northern Maine. The lighting design by Andy Smith featured a colored version of the Northern Lights and they definitely looked best on the ceiling.

The cast assembled by Mr. Guttadauro made it all look very easy. David Macharelli (BOEING, BOEING in Goshen) always has such an easy charm onstage and here was terrific as East in “Her Heart” and as Phil in “Where it Went.” Devon Richtmeyer (who names Annelle in STEEL MAGNOLIAS as her favorite role in Goshen) did very well as Marvalyn in “This Hurts” and as Hope in her story.

Ethan Parsons (SPRING AWAKENING at the Warner,) who is a teacher and thanks his teachers who pushed him along the way, played Lendall in “Getting it Back,” Dave in the final “Seeing the Thing,” and one half of “They Fall.” Daniel Dressel, who studied theatre at WCSU, was the other half of the couple in “They Fall” and was just as good as the dumped boyfriend Jimmy in “Sad and Glad” and and man in “The Story of Hope.”

The adorable Rhiannon Carta (WE WILL ROCK YOU) made her Goshen Players debut as Sandrine in “Sad and Glad” and Rhonda in “Seeing the Thing.” Ms. Carta is serving as choreographer for the upcoming Landmark production of ELF at the Thomaston Opera House. Stephanie Renzullo, the daughter of co-producer Colleen Renzullo made her acting debut as the girl in the Prologue and Epilogue, as well as the wait staff in “Sad and Glad” and Gayle in “Getting it Back.”

Kristen Moresi (CLIFFHANGER at Phoenix Stage Company,) an attorney at the U.S. Justice Department, was glorious as Glory in “Her Heart” and Marci in “Where it Went.” Samuel Man made his debut on the Goshen stage as he played Steve in “This Hurts” and the guy with the snowball in the Prologue and Epilogue.

In the audience on opening night I saw the director, Dan Ringuette, the musical Jim Luurtsema, Aric Martin, Michael Calabrese, John Dressel, stage manager Lydia Babbitt, Ms. Renzullo and the three young actors mentioned in the dedication that I had the pleasure of meeting Friday evening for the first time.

Goshen Players, Inc. presents ALMOST, MAINE" by John Cariani. October 26 - November 10, 2018: Get your tickets now for cabaret seating is selling out fast. www.goshenplayers.org "Almost Maine" runs October 26 - November 10th.

Coming up next in Goshen is one of my favorite little musicals: [title of show] a musical comedy about writing a musical comedy. It opens on March 29.

Nancy Sasso Janis has been writing theatre reviews since 2012 as a way to support local theatre venues. She posts reviews of well over 100 productions each year. In 2016, she became a member of the Connecticut Critics Circle.She continues to contribute theatre news, previews, and audition notices to local Patch sites. Reviews of all levels of theatrical productions are posted on Naugatuck Patch and the Patch sites closest to the venue. Follow the reviewer on her Facebook pages Nancy Sasso Janis: Theatre Reviewer and on Twitter @nancysjanis417 Check out the NEW CCC Facebook page.