Review: Life, love, death and eternity are laid bare in Portsmouth Grammar School's brilliant Our Town
‘Do any human beings ever realise life while they live it?’
It’s a profound question and one that you are left pondering as you come away from the latest incredible production from pupils of Portsmouth Grammar School. The year 9-11 cast, under the superb guidance of director of drama James Robinson, have taken on the challenging task of Thornton Wilder’s Our Town.
This 1938 play explores everyday existence in the fictional small American town of Grovers Corners for 12 years from 1901, pulling apart the themes of ‘Daily Life’, ‘Love and Marriage’ and ‘Death and Eternity’ across three acts.
The play strips the tale bare. The cast remains on stage throughout and, aside from chairs and a couple of ladders, tables and picket fences, there are no sets and little in the way of props. So the whole performance is carried on the shoulders of the young performers - and what a remarkable job all 21 of them do..
From start to finish the play is held together by the ‘Stage Manager’ who provides commentary, interacts with the characters and the audience and guides us through the story. Tala rises to this pivotal role and is captivating throughout. Not only does she have a mind-blowing amount of lines to recite (and a few horse whinnies and neighs) she delivers them faultlessly and injects a wide range of emotion whenever the occasion rises. Sophie excels as Emily Webb and she comes to the fore in the final dramatic act which hits you like one of Boston trains whistling down the tracks beyond Polish Town.
Grovers Corners is held together by the mothers of the town and Olivia and Honor step up to the challenge of keeping their families in check as Mrs Gibbs and Mrs Webb. George as George Gibbs has a rollercoaster ride to cope with throughout the three acts while special mention too to the dashes of comedy interjected by Sophie’s cheekiness as Rebecca Gibbs and Sasha’s Mrs Soames, who loves nothing more than a good gossip and a ‘wonderful’ wedding. But around the central performances every member of the cast should be proud of the performances they delivered.
The play gently takes you through small town America at the turn of the last century but it is those incredibly moving last scenes - as we roam from the graveside on the hill, to a birthday on Main Street and back again - that leave a lasting impression. They urge us to cherish the small, overlooked moments of life and, as Emily is left wondering, to appreciate living while we can.