DGS' Winter Play Finishes the Phrase "Love is..."

Love is... 

Blind? Broken? Unconditional? 

In you step inside , you'll see various answers to that question, both on the promotional posters for South's winter play and written on the arms and faces of the play's actors. 

This weekend's production of "Almost, Maine" presents love in various forms: between father and son, friends, husband and wife and boyfriend and girlfriend. But it isn’t a cutesy love story.

“The author wrote in the play notes that cute will kill this play,” said Student Director Harry Bodell, a DGS senior. “The challenge is to present it in a human way and not in a giggly, schmaltzy way."

There’s a scene where a guy sees his ex for the first time only to learn she’s getting married. In another, a couple has "the marriage talk." 

That’s what makes it relatable, the cast said. 

“Everyone can walk away from this and say, ‘That has happened to me,’” said DGS Senior Bret Whitten. “’That can happen to me.’ Everyone will have a connection to this play.”’ 

It’s so real, in fact, the dialogue can get a little awkward, said Director Tiffany Rubin, as real-life dialogue can. And the play deals with more mature relationships than South's teenage actors have been a part of. 

Her students' ability to not only grasp but evoke the raw emotions of a troubled marriage took Rubin by surprise. 

“They’re incredible,” she said. “It’s so real.”

The cast includes 11 students, six girls and five boys. Some are student athletes. Some are on the school’s Speech team. Some have already performed in six DGS productions. Some have never performed on stage before.

“I was looking for a variety of students to play very real, raw people,” Director Tiffany Rubin told The Blueprint, DGS’ school newspaper. “I love diverse casts. It makes a show more exciting…With a cast like this, it allows for a real chance to bond and use their individual strengths to put on a great ensemble performance.”

“Almost Maine” is non-traditional. Each scene captures a different relationship and a different emotion, with some aspect of magic.

But the scenes do not build on one another. There isn’t a traditional story arc. Though characters are spoken of in other scenes, most are never seen more than once. 

The lack of continuity proved challenging, so Rubin decided to incorporate an artist into the production. Between each scene, a sped-up video plays of student Jake Saban drawing to tie the scenes together. (Teaser: The artist also has a role to play in the production.)

The actors said they like the nontraditional format. It gives them plenty of time to bond backstage. The production's two student directors said they also like the challenge of constantly working with new actors and characters.

Both of the play’s student directors aspire to direct in the future. Rubin helps them toward that goal, they said.

“She asks our opinions about certain decisions in the play,” said Director Abby Armato, a DGS junior. “We collaborate with her. She helps us and we help her. We feel like a family.”   

Downers Grove South will present “Almost Maine” Friday and Saturday at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $6 and $5 for students and will be sold at the door.

Cast: 

• Anthony Allen
• David Ferguson
• Livvi Germann
• Taylor Lane
• Malorie Masek
• Logan Moran-Rudd
• Rose Murphy
• Conor Orth
• Erin Marie Walsh
• Lucas Welker
• Bret Whitten

Featuring the artistry of Jake Saban

DIRECTOR: Tiffany Rubin

TECHNICAL DIRECTOR: Hunter Evans

STUDENT DIRECTORS: Abby Armato and Harry Bodell