Hypocrites reinvent classic 'Our Town'
"Once in a thousand times it's interesting."
Thornton Wilder's Stage Manager utters those words at the end of the second act of "Our Town" while presiding over the wedding of George and Emily, the altogether ordinary couple whose romance underscores Wilder's oft-produced ode to a small-town America that maybe never was but which we dearly wish might have been. But the character's observations also apply to director David Cromer's eye-opening revival, a remount of The Hypocrites show that opened last spring to widespread acclaim.
Celebrated for the homespun eloquence of its writing; the fundamental decency of its characters;, the timelessness of its simple message about the transience of life and the importance of love and community, "Our Town" has been a constant in the classroom and on the stage. (A high-profile revival starring the late Paul Newman as the Stage Manager had a brief run on Broadway in late 2002). That familiarity has bred indifference to this poignant examination of the lives of the ordinary folks who inhabit the sleepy town of Grover's Corners, New Hampshire, during the early years of the 20th century. I shared that perception, and greeted with a raised eyebrow and a shrug the announcement that the play would conclude The Hypocrites' 11th season.
Cromer, who plays the Stage Manager in this remarkably revealing show, reminded me why the play continues to resonant. His unvarnished, utterly absorbing production steers clear of easy sentiment and Rockwellian whimsy. (No one familiar with The Hypocrites would expect anything less). Courtney O'Neill's Spartan set, Cromer's staging that integrates the audience with the actors and Alison Siple's costumes that look like they came from the cast members' closets contribute to the show's laid-back, contemporary mood (from which it diverges briefly in an ingenious, affecting scene late in the play). But there is nothing uninformed about this show's informality. This is a deliberate, moving re-imagining of an American classic in which every element rings true.
Well-cast and superbly acted, it features a notable performance from the fortysomething Cromer as the Stage Manager, a role typically played by an older actor as an all-knowing, elder statesman. With a pen tucked behind his ear, a legal pad under his arm and a cell phone in hand, he plays the role not as a patriarch but as a member of the crew. A steadying force, his Stage Manager manages the Grover's Corners' stage with quiet efficiency and calm assurance.
Bringing depth to Wilder's two-dimensional characters is Lori Myers, a wonderfully expressive Mrs. Gibbs, and Jennifer Grace, a thoughtful and credible Emily Webb. Ian Westerfer's endearingly boyish George; Tim Curtis' unwaveringly decent Mr. Webb and John Byrnes equally admirable Doc Gibbs also earn kudos.
"Our Town"
Rating: 4 stars
Location: Chopin Theatre, 1453 W. Division St., Chicago
Times: 8 p.m. Thursdays to Saturdays; 3 p.m. Sundays through Oct. 26
Running time: About 2 hours, with intermission
Tickets: $20, $25
Parking: Free parking in the Holy Trinity lot at Division and Noble streets, metered parking available
Box office: (773) 989-7352 or the-hypocrites.com
Audience: For middle school and older