Thornton Wilder’s Our Town has been hailed as one of the greatest works of the theatre due to its ability to capture our lives today by giving us a view of the simple country life of the citizens of the small town of Grover’s Corners. Though the play is over 70 years old, and the play takes place over a century ago, audiences will find nuggets of universal truth buried in the lives of these hardworking townsfolk. Zach Scott Theatre has found a fantastic way to bring this message to today’s audiences in a interesting and entertaining way, by pumping up the spectacle and putting the actors in modern dress, showing us a Grover’s Corners that is at once both eerily familiar, and also unique and utterly novel.
Breathing new life into Wilder’s classic play can be a difficult tasks for any production, but director Dave Steakley, and the talented cast and crew at Zach Theatre, brought the nearly century old tale to modern day in a dazzling and intriguing way. The first act of the piece plays off in the usual way, a general introduction of the people and places that make Grover’s Corners what it is, but it’s in the second act that things really begin to pick up steam. Instead of making us simple spectators to the wedding in the second act, we’re plunged headlong into the world of the play, the entire audience invited to take part in the festivities ourselves. Complete with cake, champagne, and even a thrown bouquet, this extravagant celebration may make audience members forget they’re watching a play, and if they’re lucky, they may find themselves sitting next to, or even dancing with, members of the cast.
In perfect contrast to the revelry and rowdiness of the wedding in act two is the solemnity and somberness with which we are 
presented with the final act of the play. As clever lighting and design provide a beautiful canvas, the players we’ve seen waltzing around with frivolity now take on a macabre, eerie air, sending a chill through the entire theatre, cutting to the core of each member.
One of the first important steps in creating a successful production of Our Town is finding the right Emily Webb. Since we follow Emily through almost her entire life, she needs to be a character we can sympathize with, that we can fall in love with, and the adorable Jordan McRae is both of these things, and so much more. When McRae steps on stage, it’s difficult to keep your eyes off of her, her beauty and innocence taking one's breath away. When her fate is finally set before us, the pain stabs deep into your heart until you're gasping for breath, since we've become so connected with this wonderful young woman. Another important casting decision for any production is the role of the Stage Manager and luckily Zach Scott found the perfect choice for us, star of the acclaimed hit Tuna plays, Jaston Williams. With plenty of comedic timing and charisma, Williams is able to bring energy to the role, without drawing too much attention to himself, letting himself take the backseat and let the story flow through, while still shining in moments where he needs to take center stage.
Our Town has gotten a reputation in recent years as being stuffy, and even boring, but Zach Scott is able to create a production full of wonder and magic, keeping audiences glued to their seats without having to change a single word of Wilder’s classic. The experience is unlike anything most audience members 
may have seen before, and is a fantastic way for theatre fans of any age to spend an evening.
Our Town is playing at Zach Scott’s Kleberg Stage through May 23rd. To purchase tickets, and find out more information on their current season, as well as the exciting shows coming next season, be sure to visit their website at zachtheatre.org.
Photos courtesy of Kirk R. Tuck
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