Our Town

by Ben Wolfson

“ ”. That’s the most poignant moment of Our Town. You didn’t catch that? Here, I’ll say it again, “ ”. You probably think there is a spelling mistake or that the wrong article was published. Let me explain.

In order not to spoil the whole play for you (not to mention the third act, which is so vivid, due to its profound moments of induced introspection and self-evaluation), I’ll summarize it in a sentence: Boy in suburban town meets girl, they get married and then the third act.

The few props onstage are used creatively. For instance, one of the chairs is put on the table to symbolize the second story of the house. The actors are so in tune with their characters that they seem to have grown up in Grover’s Corners.

The “ ” is silence. Funny how a show can be so loud when nothing is said. The silences in Our Town puncture the fabric of the fourth wall* and, just like the Stage Manager who narrates the play, the silences tell us of the deeper woes, thoughts and feelings of the characters.

If you’re a teenager looking for a show with humor and heart that will give you a new found respect for life, see Our Town. You won’t regret it.

*Fourth Wall: The invisible line that divides the actors from the audience.

HOW TO SEE THE SHOW: $20 student rush • Barrow Street Theatre, 27 Barrow St.