From Sept. 24 to 27, the Gael’s Theatre Guild performed Thornton Wilder’s Our Town in the black box theatre.
Selling out almost every night, the black box was packed with students and families coming to see the show and support the guild.
The smaller space allowed the audience to feel closer and more connected to the story and characters. Norah Khayat ‘26 said, “I loved the feel of the back box…it felt more comfortable and much more intimate.”
For the actors, the black box provides a few additional challenges. Josephina Russo ‘26, who played Mrs. Gibbs and Rebecca Gibbs, shared that actors need to be more aware of the space on the stage. “It is a lot smaller than the theatre and we have to remember that the audience will be able to see every little move we make.”
In all shows, there is a process that actors go through in order to truly become their character. Presley Barnaby ‘26, who played Emily Webb, said, “To get into character, the big thing for me was learning how to ground myself. I had to figure out how to slow down, breathe, and really connect to how Emily was feeling rather than ‘acting’ it.”
She continued to explain, “I loved getting myself to fully commit to her journey and experiencing the changes from young girl, into young wife, into the afterlife, without having to really switch between characters.”
For Russo, she had a slightly different experience, playing two characters who had less lines than Emily, but still have vital roles in making the story come together. To get into character, Russo said, “I have to remind myself of who the characters are as people because they are so different. Mrs. Gibbs is a wise motherly woman who runs the house. Rebecca is a cute little girl who’s just happy to be there.”
The climax of the play is Emily’s monologue at the very end. After she arrived in the graveyard to start her afterlife, and journeys back in time to relive her old life, she goes to the front and center of the stage and gives the most beautiful monologue that would make anyone watching or reading the play stop for a minute to think about how precious life is. Barnaby said that giving this monologue “ was so special because of how raw and vulnerable it got on the stage and the way it came together.”
For some, actions taken before the play reminded actors that, as in all things, God was present in the moment with them. Russo shared, “My favorite experience is the pre-show prayer. It’s when we as a case come together and shout out to people and most importantly pray. It reminds me how we are all one and striving for the same goal: to put on a great show!”
Overall, this play was a great start for this year of the Gaels Theatre Guild, and laid a good groundwork for what is to come.
