BWW Reviews: OUR TOWN Opens the 50th Season for the Kansas City Repertory Theatre

Our Town opened the 50th season of the Kansas City Repertory Theatre on Friday September 12 at the Spencer Theater located on the campus of the University of Missouri at Kansas City. Thornton Wilder wrote the 1938 classic and winner of the 1938 Pulitzer Prize for Drama that has weathered time to remain one of the most popular plays of all time.

Our Town is a classic that needs little or no attempt to improve or change the direction of the performance. David Cromer directs the KC Rep production, making choices that distract from the near perfection of the work. Gone are the New England accents, the play takes place in Grover's Corner New Hampshire, period costuming is replaced with modern attire, and the stage has been reworked to make it more intimate for the audience.

The most unsettling of the three is the change to the theater itself. Transformation of the orchestra section provides seating on the left and right sides of the stage. A wide isle between the other rows separates the first aisle of seats on each side and the actors employ this area throughout the production. Several times during the show, regardless of where you are sitting, the characters speak their lines with their backs to parts of the audience, making the conversation hard if not impossible to hear. The costuming is distracting and difficult to buy into as the turn of the 20th century, which also distracts from the play itself. The loss of accents is the least objectionable of the changes instilled by Cromer. Our Town could be any town, east coast, Midwest, west coast, or any other region.

The incredible acting by the cast is able to overpower the three obvious distractions (or annoyances depending on where you are sitting) to create an enjoyable production. Jeff Still is marvelous as the Stage Manager, utilizing perfectly timed facial expressions and body language. Charles Fugate is superb as Editor Webb and Linsey Page Morton, making her Rep debut, provides a fabulous performance as Emily.

Stephanie Rae Roberts as Mrs. Gibbs, Derrick Trumby making his debut at the Rep, and Kati Brazda as Mrs. Webb give fine performances as well as Craig Benton as Doc Gibbs. With such a remarkably talented cast, more is expected from a Kansas City Repertory Theatre production.

Our Town continues at the Spencer Theatre through September 28. Purchase tickets by calling 816-235-2700 or visit the Kansas City Repertory Theatre website. Photo courtesy of the Kansas City Repertory Theatre.

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