When I arrived at the MVHS theater to see the fall play Our Town, I wasn’t completely sure what to expect – it was my first time going to a school play. In no time at all, Elizabeth Wheeler stepped onto the stage as the narrator, and I was introduced to the city of Mountain View. She delivered a monologue that had a compelling mix of humor and worldbuilding, a feat that would be repeated many times over the course of the play.
The introduction of the town was followed by meeting with key characters, including Emily Webb, played by junior Matilda Vickrey, and George Gibbs, played by junior Lazar Vujkovic. They formed a somewhat awkward relationship through their teenage years, still unsure of themselves.
Before I knew it, the first act ended and the second act began with Emily and George dealing with the anticipation of their wedding. One standout scene involved George meeting with Emily’s father, editor Gibbs, played by Vivaan Beri, before the wedding ceremony. I could feel the tension between them as they stared at each other over the dinner table until Webb broke the silence. Soon, in a roundabout way, he told George to follow his heart, being key to his own successful marriage.
The wedding set was elaborate, featuring pews for a large gathering of guests, stained windows and a cross tying it together. I really appreciated the design, and it was one of the many well designed sets that stood out to me over the course of the play.
As the second act concluded, an instrumental version of Iris by the Goo Goo Dolls played, leaving me eager to see how the final act would unfold. I was invested in the plot – the excellent acting, sets, and sound design were to thank for that.
Church bells rang to kick off the third act, and figures walked to graves in shadow, the entire theater pitch black. I couldn’t help but feel the suspense as I wondered who these shadowed figures were. The narrator revealed that 10 years had passed, sharing the identities and causes of death of each deceased character.
Among the characters, we soon saw a dead Emily, garbed in a white dress as she grappled with her own death. Dead cast members illuminated by purple lights echoed the voices of those off stage, creating an eerie effect that was as unsettling as it was captivating. Against the advice of the fellow dead, she went back to visit her family to relive her twelfth birthday. Noticing how young her parents were, she was soon unable to take it, stealing a final glance at her family before she returned to her grave.
The play’s emotional climax came as Emily watched George visiting her grave with flowers. It was a powerful moment when she hugged him, knowing that he couldn’t feel or see her. As he walked away, Emily walked into her grave, and the narrator delivered short monologue, leaving the audience with much to reflect on
Overall, the play was excellent, with the set design and acting really standing out. I was captivated by the performances, and I appreciated how they had adapted the play so that it truly felt like it belonged in Mountain View. Perhaps one of the most important indicators of a play’s success is the question of whether I would see the next. The answer is yes.
