Jesuit Stage and Film: Our Town

November 10, 2022

188

“It’s a classic and we wanted to bring it to Jesuit.”- Mr. Patterson

After afternoon storms, on a brisk Friday night, Jesuit Stage and Film began their first show of the year: Our Town. A show about the lives of the normal citizens of Grover’s Corners that explores the meaning of life. This show is Mr. Patterson’s first show as the lead director for Jesuit Stage and Film.

” a lot goes into these shows, the lights, costumes, script and the set. The set however was new for me as I now had to build, plan, and execute it with my new stage craft class. I can’t wait to see our hard work pay off.”- Mr. Patterson

Their hard work definitely paid off. I thought the play was fantastic. I found the humor well-timed and hilarious. Part of this came from the unique use of almost no props.

This allowed the actors to use “imaginary” props. At first, I was very confused, thinking it was very weird. However, the actors acted so natural that rather than weird it was special. My personal favorite out of this use would be the farmer’s imaginary stubborn cow. I think because of this element, the play became more distinctive.

“the play has a different type of atmosphere. it INVITES YOU TO IMMERSE without leaving anyone else excluded.”- emmanuel Daniel

Another unique element of the play is the use of the narrator. This narrator pops in and out of first and third person, being a part of the play’s characters while talking directly to the audience. Jackson Schutze ’24, the actor for this character made it his own. I found myself laughing at his comments and interactions with other characters. I think he was a great choice for this unique character and did a fantastic job.

Yet, by the end of the play, the humor from these elements fades away. It shifts to a much more serious tone. Unlike the vibrant colors from before, the melancholy blue and black dominated the ending. The actor’s ability to shift to this was impeccable. I was very impressed with how they changed their tone. Their serious line deliveries made me feel overwhelmed with sadness in such powerful scenes. This helped with the overarching theme of life. Learning to appreciate the things you have before they are gone or when you are gone. Overall, I think this was an amazing play and I encourage anyone to go.