‘Almost Maine’ Review

Nicole Schlabach

@gcsunade

Georgia College’s Black Box Theatre transformed into a winter wonderland last Thursday night during GC Theatre’s performance of “Almost, Maine.”

There was an undeniable young, creative energy pulsing beneath the lines of dialogue; this could be attributed to the fact that the production was entirely created by students. Kayla Carson, senior theater major directed the play as her senior capstone.

The play fit neatly into the theater department’s overarching theme: A Season for Love and Justice. The performance held the audience’s attention by switching  to a new couple every 15 minutes. The performance was simple, yet exciting and enjoyable.

Most of the stories were very sweet, light and easy to digest, however, the entire show wasn’t all laughter and smiles. Heartbreak was as much of a theme as requited love. While one scene culminated in a proposal, another ended in rejection. Whether the scenes triggered smiles or sighs, one line of continuity persisted throughout every romantic situation — the presence of love or the absence of a love that once existed.

It is worth mentioning how all generations visibly responded to the quirky storyline of “Almost, Maine.” In the dark setting of the Black Box Theatre, age barriers faded as the audience transformed into one laughing, clapping and sighing body.

Even Matthew Higgs, a young boy who came to watch the play with his grandparents, laughed along with everyone else.

“It was so funny, I’m really liking it,” Higgs said during intermission.

An especially witty element of the production was the repetition of abstract statements made literal. Two boys actually fell and slipped on ice as they “fell in love” with each other, and a couple literally returned each other’s love in large, red bags tied with white ribbon.

The end of the performance triggered all kinds of feel-good vibes.

“It was a perfect mixture of love and romance,” said freshman Jackie Terry, who enjoyed the show with her friends.

Stephanie Soll, a sophomore psychology major commended the actors’ performance.

“My favorite part was how the actors really made you feel their emotions,” Soll said. “I found myself getting excited along with the characters.”
Kayla Carson should be delighted by the fact that her audience left the theatre smiling a little wider than before, a brilliant success for any director.

Overall Rating: 4.5/5