BWW Reviews: Artists' Exchange Celebrates Opening of Theatre 82 with Touching OUR TOWN

Artists' Exchange hosted a spirited open house to officially welcome the community to their newly constructed performance space at Theatre 82. Prior to the April 5th premiere of Thornton Wilder's Our Town, the theater - which is easily three times as large as the company's original black box, located just a block away - featured the fantastic sound of local jazz band The Forte Four.

Our Town (which marks its 75th anniversary in 2013) is Wilder's much-cherished portrait of a small New Hampshire community, and the full, if ordinary, lives of the inhabitants of Grover's Corners at the turn of the twentieth century. Wilder masterfully crafted a story that, while primarily centered on two neighboring families, holds universally-resonating and enduring truths that tug at the heartstrings of audiences everywhere.

Artists' Exchange gathered a solid ensemble of local actors for their production of Our Town, and this group makes the most of each and every character portrayed on stage.

Tom Chace positively shines as the Stage Manager. He is an engaging storyteller and maintains a welcoming rapport with the audience through the entire performance. Chace effortlessly transitions into bit character roles - a store keeper, a minister - as needed, and he centers and directs the energy on stage each and every time he enters a scene.

Kate Lester and Meaghan Rose Donnelly as Mrs. Gibbs and Mrs. Webb, respectively, easily carry each of their appearances on stage. Lester and Donnelly bring brisk and businesslike warmth to their roles, and both women embody the sturdy, good-hearted industriousness of the era's northern New England housewife. The women remain in motion at all times, even when their characters are firmly in a scene's background, busily setting tables, cleaning countertops and shelling beans.

Mia Ray and Nick Viau take center stage as Emily Webb and George Gibbs, the two families' eldest children who grow up and grow closer as years pass in Grover's Corners. The pair works well together and they bring a youthful honesty to their characters' interactions.

Ray is a talented young artist; she ably ages her character from schoolgirl, to new bride, to capable, mature womanhood, and her layered performance in the third act is genuinely moving. Viau plays George with a level good-humor that allows him to act as a foil during more comical scenes, such as George's awkward wedding-morning breakfast with future father-in-law Mr. Webb (Christopher Ferreira).

Other cast standouts include Sarah Good as the delightfully gossipy Mrs. Soames, Ken Benoit as the endearing milkman Howie Newsome, Mark Carter as the troubled Simon Stimson, and Corey Lynn Arruda as the amusing, irrepressible Rebecca Gibbs.

Theatre 82's intimate seating ideally suits Our Town and the play's focus on ordinary life and commonplace occurrences. The close proximity of the actors to the audience, especially in scenes like the second act's wedding, lends a "you are there" feeling to the performance, breathing life and immediacy to the characters and their interactions. With no real props or sets to speak of, the simplicity of this production well compliments Wilder's emphasis on the great importance of human connection and the small details of everyday living.

Artists' Exchange's new space does pose two probable hindrances. The first is the theater's restroom situation. Expect long lines at intermission as only one unisex unit is available for patrons and company alike. Secondly, outside noise from the Café drifts into the black box during the performance; additional sound-proofing measures may be required in the future.

Theatre 82 adjoins the Characters Café and art gallery, and also hosts the Bring Your Own Improv troupe on Friday evenings.

Our Town plays a limited run at Artists' Exchange's Theatre 82, weekends only through April 14, 2013. Tickets are $15 and can be purchased online at www.artists-exchange.org or by phone at (401) 490-9475. Theatre 82 is located at 82 Rolfe Square, Cranston, RI. Please visit the company's website for further details.

Pictured: Tom Chace, Mia Ray, and Nick Viau. Photo courtesy Artists' Exchange.

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