Rambunctious Theatre Company performs Our Town

As I was taking notes during the Rambunctious Theatre Company’s performance of Our Town, the one word I continually found myself repeating was ‘charming’. Everything, from the purposefully minimalistic set to the lovely cast of characters, to the subtle but excellently executed sound design call this word to mind. From the moment that I entered Robinson Secondary School’s theater, I was amazed at the calm and comforting atmosphere that they managed to create by simply having a man in a tux play the guitar from the audience.

Simply is another word that comes to mind when I think of this show. Our Town was intentionally created to have a minimalist set, almost no props, and entire focus to be on the actors and their story. Luckily, this is the best possible choice for the cast, as the lack of decorum truly allows them to shine. The two mothers (Ariel Noble as Mrs. Webb and Teagan Pratt as Mrs. Gibbs) of Emily (Erin Reno) and George (Nico Ochoa) show tell subtle but heartbreaking tales, juxtaposing the young love and subsequent heartbreak of the two leads.

Even small, bit characters shine, such as a goofy and loveable wedding-goer (Heidi Clouse), or the entertaining question-askers (Corinne Baum, Lizzy Lawrence, and Anna Freeman) planted in the audience during the first act. However, the show-stoppers of the productions were truly the two narrators (Ivy Mitchell and Trevor Grote), who carried the audience through this story. They both had excellent chemistry with each other, as well as an adorably playful relationship with the audience. Madeline Marshall, the director, also brings the show to an 11 with simple things that make the whole production even more -you guessed it- charming. Little things like a rock-paper-scissors match between the narrators to decide who would play the show’s background characters, or personalized chairs to serve as the graves of characters we’ve come to know and love throughout the story.

Our Town is a heartwarming tale of families that live lives not so different from ours. They’re universal stories that anyone can relate too, from parents getting ready to give their children away in marriage, to those mourning the loss of a loved one. It may be a story of a town apart from us, but it is still a reflection of our lives.