Theater to present 'Almost, Maine'

Almost, Maine is not a point in a journey ? as in, ?We?re almost in Maine.? Rather, it?s a destination: a remote little Maine town inhabited by some very interesting and sometimes quirky people who interact in ways that make you laugh and feel and think.

It?s a destination you should definitely visit. And it?s not far away. All you must do is attend Washington Community Theater?s production of Almost, Maine by John Cariani. It?s being performed this weekend and next, Friday and Saturday evenings starting at 7:30 p.m., at the Washington Community Center. The play, directed by Michael McNurlen, is the first production of WCT?s 2015 season, and it gets the year off to a highly enjoyable start.

Let?s cut to chase: This is a terrific show. If you haven?t been to a local theater production for a while, it?s time to go back. If you?ve never been to a production before, this is the one to get you started. You don?t want to miss it.

The script is very entertaining, and the acting is simply superb. It?s by turns funny, touching, heartbreaking, poignant, uplifting and funny again.

It?s a unique, charming show about love: love at first sight, unrequited love, unexpected love, and renewed love. It?s unique in that it tells not one continuous story but nine separate stories that are interconnected; they all take place at 9 p.m. on a cold, clear Friday night in different locations in Almost, with the Northern Lights dancing in the sky.

In the course of the evening, we meet 19 different characters, two or three at a time, in well-written and cleverly staged vignettes.

Director McNurlen has assembled a very talented and impressive cast of 19 local actors and drawn fine performances out of them all. They are: Gina Bennett, Courtney Cook, Kadie Dennison, Nikki Frederick, Adrian "Taco" Galindo, Chris Hanson, Abby Heim, Dave Helmuth, Melody Lockard, Steve Lockard, Sonya Love-Smith, Craig McClenahan, Vern Miller, Danielle Pettit-Majewski, Brent Pfeiffer, Stacy Rinner, Jenny Tobin, Megan Yoder, and McNurlen himself. They?re all so good that it?s hard to name a favorite, and even if I did, yours would probably be different from mine.

The various technical elements of the show ? lighting, sound, costumes, properties, settings, and set changes ? all contribute well to its overall success. The show moves along swiftly and easily, and the settings, lighting, and costumes make you feel as if you are there in Maine on that cold winter?s evening. Credit goes to the behind-the-scenes designers and crew, including Cat Nelson, Jon Gloyer, Lisa Hughes, Melanie Jeter-Hawkins, Ruth Towner, Otis Cleverly, Brandon Linnenkemp, and the cast themselves.

It all makes for a funny, warm, extremely enjoyable night at the theater. I think you?ll like the residents of Almost, Maine.