“Almost, Maine” kicked off the new season for Arkansas State University’s Theatre department last weekend with a bang.

The show is terrific. It is both heartfelt and sincere, with the added benefit of being genuinely hilarious. 

The production’s stage design is unique, with a plain stationary circular platform that is surrounded by a rotating edge that clears the stage of one story while setting the scene for another. 

This design element offers great narrative value as it conveys the sense that all of the stories are connected, all happening at once under the shared phenomenon of the northern lights. 

The audience is able to maintain a deep immersion and connection with the characters through the literal proximity to the actors on stage. 

We were like flies on the wall, watching these intimate moments unfold. 

The cast is superb, with Olin James and Isaiah Wallis being particularly great in their scenes, capturing and beautifully portraying a variety of powerful emotions. 

James’ portrayal of Steve, a man who cannot feel pain and finds love in the laundry room of a boarding house, was a personal favorite. 

At its core, the show is about connection and all of the highs and lows that come with complex relationships and human emotions. 

Whether it is two people coming together, two people pulling apart or two people who don’t quite know what it is they want, the cast and crew beautifully display the nuances of these situations and leave you feeling both joyous and distraught in equal measure. 

I would find it difficult to imagine someone seeing this production and being unable to find a character or situation that does not resonate with them in one way or another. 

The northern lights unite every story with shared circumstances and add a layer of magic and fantastical absurdity to the scenes, but each one is grounded by the characters within. 

This story is human and the feelings and struggles of these characters are ones we can find all too familiar. 

I would recommend this show to anyone who enjoys thoughtful writing about love and loss and those who enjoy stories about the human condition. 

Be prepared to laugh and potentially cry as you are whisked away to a place that is not quite a town, but is definitely filled with wonderful stories. 

The final performances of “Almost, Maine” will be held Friday at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday at 2:30 p.m. in the Simpson Theatre at the Fowler Center. Arkansas State University students can get in free with their A-State student ID. 

General admission tickets can be found at the following link: https://www.ticketmaster.com/Mainstage-Theatre-tickets-Jonesboro/venue/222528

Categories: Arts & Entertainment