OUR TOWN

Writer: Thornton Wilder

Director: Janine Swainson

Gaslight Theatre Cambridge

23 August-6 September 2025

Poster design: Nigel Slaughter

Our Town is Thornton Wilder’s 1938 Pulitzer Prize-winning play. Touted as “the greatest American play ever written”, Our Town has stood the test of time and felt as relevant on Preview Night as when it was written.

Act I established the character’s lives of fictional Grover’s Corners, New Hampshire in the early 1900s. Act II delved into the relationship between teenage neighbours George and Emily. The third act inevitably tackled loss and the aftermath of death.

Traditionally, Our Town is bare bones theatre as per Wilder’s wishes. It relies on the actors delivering Wilder’s line whilst miming, with very few items on stage except chairs, tables, and ladders. What a gig for a properties manager!

Vinnie Proebstel (George Gibbs) and Molly McGrath (Emily Webb). Image: Peter Tait

Glen Mathews anchored the play as the Stage Manager. Through his dialogue, we were provided with the layout of the town, the Gibbs and Webb houses, and the daily grind of the townsfolk. Mathews took the enormous swathe of dialogue in his stride and was a steady presence throughout, often simply side of stage watching the play unfold.

Molly McGrath’s performance as Emily Webb was outstanding, particularly in Act II as the bashful teen on a date. Opposite McGrath was Vinnie Proebstel (George Gibbs), a Year 12 student and a late replacement for the role. Proebstel was equally impressive given his genuine rapport with the others.

Ray Powell (Charles Webb) and Cat Dwyer (Myrtle Webb). Image: Peter Tait

The scene between Proebstel and Ray Powell (Charles Webb) on the morning of the wedding was exceptionally well executed. Cat Dwyer (Myrtle Webb) convincingly trimmed green beans, stoked the fire, and prepared meals showcasing her excellent miming skills. Bob Blackwell (Constable Warren) was a delight with a believable portrayal, amazing costume, and magnificent mutton chops beard. Oluwatosin Osifalujo (Simon Stimson) nailed his role initially as the drunk choirmaster and then delivered an entirely different temperament in Act III.  The younger members of the cast Rhys Mathews (Wally Webb), Amelia Mathews (Joe and Si Crowell), and Alexis Thornton (Rebecca Gibbs) were natural performers that possessed an innate understanding of the script and their characters within it. In fact, the whole cast of 19 were accomplished.

The sound effects were extensive but skilfully curated. Clanging milk bottles, clip-clopping hooves, an ice-cream parlour doorbell, torrential rain, and the occasional passing train embellished the action.

Gaslight Theatre has just upgraded its lighting system after years of fundraising. Tracey Riddell and Rhys Duncan created an effective design that enhanced the play, varying the time of day and atmosphere through smooth transitions and great focus.

Oluwatosin Osifalujo (Simon Stimson) with the Church Choir. Image: Peter Tait

Act III was the best play act I have ever seen performed. Starting during intermission (it does not matter if you miss it), it set the tone for an astonishing 40 minutes of theatre that was both poignant and powerful. For those who have not yet seen Our Town, I won’t describe it but rest (hah) assured that the staging was exceptional. The costumes, lighting, and delivery of Wilder’s dialogue was sublime.

This is all thanks to Janine Swainson who chose this play to make her directorial debut. It encompassed all her learnings from decades of treading the boards. Her artistic vision was refined, and attention to detail across all aspects set a new benchmark in the staging of Our Town. One can only wonder what’s next on Swainson’s bucket list as this delivered a big tick.

One of the more famous lines from Our Town is “I can’t look at everything hard enough!” and that summed up my experience perfectly. Congratulations to all on a polished and thought-provoking piece of theatre.

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