Pre-production for “Our Town,” directed by Dr. Rachel Tracie, draws to an end as the show opens Thursday, Oct. 23. When prompted to share the significance of “Our Town” as it relates to the students of Biola, Tracie said:
“I never wanted to do [Our Town] – I thought it was a high school play that was really lame, honestly… I shouldn’t say that, but when I read a book called Tom Lake by Ann Patchett… it kind of stuck in my head and I started to have some thoughts about it and I thought this is the Holy Spirit, so I looked at it again and was like this play is amazing – it is everything that is good to me about theatre.”
The book “Tom Lake” is heavily inspired by “Our Town” thematically and mentions a summer production of “Our Town” that Lara, one of the characters, reminisces on within the plot of the story. Tracie added that this reflection on the script prompted her to notice how modern-day luxuries often distract us from the beauty of the world around us.
“We’re in our phones and our devices so much that it’s important to really pay attention to God’s creation and what is left here for us that reveals God and the eternal to us,” Tracie said.
Live theatre offers the unique opportunity to engage with people on an intimate level while participating in a shared experience. “Our Town” specifically looks at the mundane realities of everyday life. By placing the small town of “Grover’s Corners” at the centre of the play, the script of “Our Town” follows the lives of two families, the Gibbs and the Webbs. Through the delicate love story of Emily Webb and George Gibbs, it presents its audience with a claim about valuing little moments. Faith Pepponis, portraying Emily Webb, and Robby Mynes, portraying George Gibbs, were admirably vulnerable in presenting their heart for the play itself.
“This story is such a beautiful one, and I think every time we read through, every time we rehearse it, I find more of God’s goodness in the writing of it and in the story, and I think it points back to the goodness of the world and the little things,” Pepponis said. “[I] take a step back from all the crazy things that are happening and just look at God’s goodness and where His hand is.”
“Thinking about how beautiful god has made this earth, it’s easy to get caught up in all the wrong things in it and the sin and corruption,” Mynes said. “But being able to focus on the good things, the good little things, and live moment by moment in that good.”
The excitement surrounding this performance is real; the director and cast are equally honored to share their hard work with a public audience. Director Tracie encourages students to come to the Curtis Theatre to see “Our Town,” a simple delight that she fears is dwindling in the modern day.
“This is [referring to Our Town], to me, what theatre is,” Tracie said. “And right now we need live human connection, and this play just puts that out there.”
Peponnis and Mynes are eager to fill the seats of the Curtis Theatre auditorium and were given the chance to provide one convincing sentence for the students of Biola.
“I think [Our Town] is such a fun commentary on life, childhood, marriage, and then death,” Pepponis said. “There’s a lot going on there, so come see Our Town!”
“It’s only five bucks! You get to feel something, you get to learn something, you get to be somewhere,” Mynes said. “You get to get out of your room, it’s gonna be great!”
The cast of “Our Town” has poured many hours into polishing their show. Starting in September, they have dedicated their free time to memorization, blocking, practices, and song practice. Enjoy the fruits of their laborious past few weeks by purchasing tickets for Biola’s production of “Our Town” at the conservatory’s website.
