Cappies Review: 'Almost, Maine' At West Springfield High School

By Leydi Cris Cobo Cordon of Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology

Almost. A word that describes both a town and so many of the relationships within it. Almost married. Almost in love. Almost moved on. However, when it comes to the question of the successful execution of a performance that tugged at the heartstrings and sparked warm, fuzzy feelings, West Springfield High School's answer was no "almost."

Between stone-cold heartbreak, newfound love, and the bittersweet area in between, John Cariani's 2004 play explores the concept of love in eleven short scenes. All these stories take place simultaneously, on a night when the Northern Lights will become visible, in an area of Maine that isn't quite a town — hence the name: Almost, Maine.

This production's magical element was truly elevated by the Northern Lights, which shone at the end of each scene, enchanting both the couples and audiences alike. Mimicking natural phenomena on stage is no easy feat, so to achieve this, TJ Green cunningly synced up a series of projectors to create a glowing effect that smoothly transitioned from soothing hues of green to magenta. Even more astonishing than that was the final iteration of Northern Lights that shone throughout the entire auditorium. Green had sneakily hidden projectors during intermission, and with the help of Stage Manager Meg Hogan, they were able to coordinate when to reveal the sparkling lights.

Bubbling with chemistry, Jack Furman and Chloe Nasr's Dave and Rhonda were a comedic explosion. The duo played off each other especially well, which made moments like when they were "tricking it" extra cute. Their scene revolved around Dave expressing his love for his friend Rhonda, by giving her a painting of a pixelated heart. In an attempt to get Rhonda to see the heart, Furman would jump and then point, creating a charming combination of moves to execute each time Dave told her to "trick it."

This performance was rounded out by Oliver Bourjaily and Mad Mitchell who played Pete and Ginette, a couple who quite literally came full circle. Both roles were very demanding physically since they had little dialogue, yet Bourjaily and Mitchell handled it magnificently. During the interlogue, Bourjaily was a pitiful sight, sulking with his head in his hands as he sat abandoned on the bench. When Mitchell re-entered for the epilogue, his eyes lit up and his entire posture shifted as the excitement sunk in. Both of them excelled at conveying emotions through movement, a valuable skill for an actor to have.

Just like the layers of cozy flannels, jackets, and sweaters the actors were bundled under, the costume design done by Halli Wilkerson and Maddie Schulz was dynamic and detail oriented. In "Story of Hope," audiences were put into the shoes of Hope, who only spotted Daniel's wedding ring after it had been revealed that he was married, making it all the more heartbreaking. The costumes team also used contrast between the pairings to their advantage, such as dressing Jimmy in a faded flannel, while his ex, Sandrine, wore a bright fuchsia dress. This illustrated how the couples often found themselves on opposing sides before ultimately ending up together or apart. Finley Cochran and Eleanor Heinbaugh's set design featured tall pine tree silhouettes lining the back and a wooden porch to the side, creating a cozy ambiance for the entire performance. Additional set pieces were swapped in during efficient transitions, giving each scene a distinct location.

Following a whimsical, wintry night, West Springfield's performance of Almost, Maine set a new standard as they brought next-level magical realism to the stage.