Almost Maine was an enchanting show that showcased separate love stories of the people who live in the town Almost, Maine. This play is in one word: ‘adorable’. The script by John Cariani was written in a way that made the audience invested in each new relationship even though they were only exposed to the characters for just one scene. The director Sarah Hinz was amazing at portraying the closeness of the couples and magic between their interactions. The romantic intentions of this play were done in a realistic and inspiring way.
The scenery of this show was very minimalistic. With small cut outs of a forest in the background and easy to move set pieces it made the scenes move quickly. With different locations, the minimalistic scenery made each scene believable and flexible. The scenic designer Suzannah Weiss had excellent vision when conveying the feeling of the small town with such simple background pieces. This helped convey the simple message of the show, which is “love”, with simple scenery.
Michela Lochen, the lighting designer who projected the northern lights on the set in-between each scene complimented the flexible and subtle scenery even more. The Northern Lights were an immense part of the story line as they shine down on each couple in between scenes, and Lochen was integral to promote this idea to the audience. That being said, the Northern Lights were hard to notice at first, it would have been nice to have an even greater display of the changing colors to bring this theme home.
The actress that stuck out as the most expressive was Amanda Hennen. Hennen played the roles of both Glory and Rhonda, however she excelled the most at the role of Rhonda. Hennen had the audience rolling with laughter with her interpretation of “tricking it” and her boisterous portrayal of the tomboy Rhonda. Her performance of the character was equally hilarious and heartwarming, which made her romance with Jordan Dettmann truly captivating.
Dettmann was also a truly outstanding actor because of his ability to convey the same energy Hennen was supplying. The duo seemed to be a match made in heaven. Each actor was clever and funny in their own way, creating one of the strongest scenes in the play.
Another scene that was specifically mesmerizing was “They Fell” which featured Jordan Dettmann and Paul Icenogle. These macho best friends who ended up falling for each other, were one of the most interesting couples. The performance by Dettmann and Icenogle had the audience howling with laughter. From the strong and perfectly timed hilarity of their lines, to their utter determination in their roles, this pair stole the show. The moment Dettmann and Icenogle fell to the ground over and over it seemed like the audience would never stop laughing, both actors put a lot of effort into truly falling to the ground with gusto which only added to the hilarity of the scene.
The overall heartwarming portrayal of love in this play made it worth watching from the start, however what made it even better was the outstanding performance by the actors and technicians. Each scene had its own charm which caused the audience to be lost in the story, and it felt like each scene had something new and amazing to offer. It was easy to see that the theme of love was alive and well in this fantastic performance. The performance given by the cast of Almost Maine was truly inspiring.
Almost, Maine directed by Sarah Hinz had its opening night on November 10th, 2016 and premiered through November 12th. Even though this performance was only performed three nights, it was a class A act. Almost, Maine was a mixture between comedy and romance. This romantic comedy was something both men and women would enjoy to see. Looking around, there was not one person in the audience not laughing at the corny jokes and scenes shown throughout the performance. The different type of romances forming created something more than just corny, it was real. Almost, Maine showed some of the true colors in different types of relationships, the happiness, problems and the beauty of love. It seemed as if the artist was trying to show that there is no one size fits all to love, but that love is as unique as every single person who experiences it. In Hinz’s notes, she states this show is supposed to encourage us to reminisce about our own experiences with love and to see the beauty in how each one is different from the next. Almost, Maine did a fantastic job achieving its goal by showing love is simply wonderful whether it is sweet, sad, funny or just a humble bunch of a mess. By setting love as a theme, it fit everyone in the audience. Everyone experiences love in some shape or form, this performance portrayed the happiness as well as the struggles in love beautifully. Almost, Maine came with a great cast group that did not just put on a show for the audience but put on a show that felt real with real emotion. The characters played the emotions involved with love greatly. Racheal Ronding did an outrageous job creating the emotions not just in her facial expressions but also in her voice, she made the emotions build up and circle around the room in the scene Story of Hope. Almost every cast member brought realism to the audience and that seemed to tie the whole production together, without that, Almost, Maine would not have been as extraordinary as it was. On a side note, the short scenes worked great within the Dudley Experiment Theatre helping out the characters with creating the realism. The small space formed a closeness between the characters themselves as well as their characters with the audience. This is what seemed to let the emotion swirl around the room and create the tensions that were building up on stage right in front of the eyes. During the scene This Hurts, performed by Derek Schwartz and Kendra Ashburn, the small space allowed the audience to see the heartbreak in Schwartz eyes and hear the crackle in his voice as he hears the love of his life is about to marry someone else. This had to of been one of the best kind of theatres to perform this production in. An engaging theme, superb performers and a satisfying theatre is not all what it took to make this play what it was. Almost, Maine had a feel of coldness yet, warmth to it. How was it possible? The lighting designer, Michaela Lochen, the costume designer Andrew Chlemar, and also the scenice director Suzannah Weiss had a big part in constructing this ‘feel’ to the production. Lochen used cool colors to light up the stage with a little warmth in places so give off the thought of winter. Chlemar helped this out by having the characters wear warm looking clothing but there was also the scene backgrounds. Weiss formed a Northern look to his scenes, adding the look of snow on the ground or the trees in the background, brick houses, small town bars. Each scene seemed to tie in with the others giving off the same type of feeling. Overall, Almost, Maine, was a marvelous production and seemed to be in the best form that they could have produced. It was simply engaging and definitely a show that could be watched again. Young or old, male or female, everyone gets a chance in their lifetime to experience some type of love and this production did a superb job showing the different paths that this thing called love can take you.
Almost Maine, directed by Sarah Hinz from UMD’s Stage 2, showed the joys and pitfalls of love. With a running time of only three days the Almost Maine opened on November 10th and ran till November 12th but even with the limited set up, practice, and running the show was one that should not have been missed. With the viewer feeling fully involved in the relationships of the characters it was hard not to feel with great hurt when something didn’t go well for a character, and likewise for joyous occasions. Thanks to the writing style of John Cariani it was easy to feel these emotions when we only meet the characters for a single scene. When the show first opened we saw a couple in an awkward moment sharing a space on a park bench which gave the whole show an undertone of humor. When Tyler Carlson, playing Pete, give the awkward comment “the closer apart the further we are from each other,” not only was it humorous but when thought about more it was a moment of heartbreak. With the set being relatively simplistic, one could still understand where they characters where, but it also gave the transitions from to scene a quick and easy feat. The actress that held attention of most of the audience was Amanda Hennen. Hennen seemed to easily switch from a weary heart-broken traveler to a relationship timid tomboy. With her over the personality it was easy to laugh and hurt for both her characters Glory and Rhonda. Hennen’s way of “sneaking up” on the painting was hilarious and entraining to watch, making quick work of emotional connection that audience felt towards her. Coincidently one of Hennen’s co-actors Ryan Richardson was so emotional expressive that it was difficult to take one’s eyes off of him. Richardson played two pretty serious characters Lendall and Easton and he did it so effortlessly it was difficult to feel hurt for the characters that he played. In a contrast to the more serious roles that Richardson played co-actor Mitchell Dettmann gave the audience a laugh with his wild gestures and happy go lucky smile. Dettmann really broke up some of the heavier contact of the play and did it with ease. Overall, Almost Maine is a perfect play for anyone looking for one of the closest meanings to love there is. With its ups and downs, happiness and pitfalls, and humor and sadness. In some ways you could say that the play and all the cast shows that love is full circle.
Originally scripted by John Cariani, Sarah Hinz, president of Stage 2 Theatre Company, has found a way of directing this play and its stories. Therefore, the way the play was put together it was nice to be able to follow along with the relationships and what was occurring. It was possible to easily be affected with a relationship or the characters because of how the performers felt and how easily relatable it was. This comic production was able to relate to the audience and the audience members were hysterically enjoying every second of it. Sarah Hinz sure knows how to entertain a crowd and keep them engaged. This would be a great show for people that are imbued with emotions and want to express them or even the opposite of that, it is a roller coaster of emotions and will leave the viewer wanting more of everything.
From the moment the play started it was noticeable that the play would be a humorous romantic comedy. It was great with starting the show with a funny awkward scene because then the audience members were able to feel how the play would be like. From that, Suzannah Weiss, the scenic designer and Michaela Lochen, the lighting designer both did a great job for each scene. Because of that, it also made the play seem more real and relatable and made everything seem like it went together. To go on, the way Suzannah Weiss designed the scene made it actually look northern and all the small contributions.
Other than the scenes and designers, all the performers did a great job but some that stood out and had a great impact on what they were doing. Such as Paul Icenogle and Jordan Dettman who fell for each other and literally kept falling on the ground and getting back up again and then falling again made the audience feel something. Other performers were Rachel Ronding and Amanda Hennen they also affected the audience by their great performances. Another thing was the location of the play. The Dudley Experimental Theatre was a great choice because it was easier for the audience members to feel close and included.
The play was able to portray the various relationships that are possible and how not everyone will react the same or have similar relationships. The emotions were all over, it would be great if more people were able to see it because it was truly changing and impactful and just made everyone feel great.
Almost, Maine is a romantic comedy showcasing the comedic, sad, and inspirational love stories from the residents of the town Almost, Maine. Almost, Maine is a play put on by the student run organization Stage two with a script by John Cariani, directed by the president of the organization Sarah Hinz. The director Sarah Hinz brilliantly emotionally connected the audience to each individual character in the play and made them invested in each character after just one scene. The script involved the characters for only one scene each with exception of the first scene of the play, but the characters of each scene were still interconnected and mentioned in future scenes, which gave a nice sense of a small community of people that all knew each other.
The overall scene design was very minimalistic with either a door or bench being added between each scene, with such a minimalistic approach it made setup of each scene much quicker and made a much more actor focused play depending on the ability of the performers. The background of the play was the same used for the play One River, but the cut out of pine trees, and the sense of nature in the background still complimented the play very well. Another nice touch to the scenic design was the use of cotton/white material as snow and how they used the sense of cold as the scenes developed. For example, in the scene between Ryan Richardson as a timid tomboy trying to get his feelings across to Rhonda played by Amanda Henna, when Ryan’s character finally got his feelings across they began to strip and took off twenty layers of clothing due to the cold climate and the audience was just hysterical.
All the senses of the play were well planned out and beautifully portrayed, but the scene that stood out in everyone's mind was the very first one which was also the only one that had two other scenes in the play. The first scene of the play was featuring Tyler Carlson playing Pete and Kathryn Keller playing Ginette. The opening of the play Almost, Maine had Pete and Ginette on a bench in the middle of the snow awkwardly talking and trying to get across their feelings, and while Pete was trying to get his feelings across he accidently told Ginette to get as far away as possible to him. By the end of the play however Pete and Ginette are reunited as it looks like Ginette has traveled all the way around the world to get as close to Pete as possible, and at that realization Pete and Ginette embrace each other and the play comes to an end. This was the moment that was the most impactful and just shows how far some would go to get as close as possible to the one they love. This is one of the many fantastic stories of the play Almost, Maine and in order to pull off these fantastic scenes you need amazing actors.
There were many great actors in the play, but some of the most memorable were Amanda Hennen, Jordan Dettmann and Paul Icenogle. Amanda Hennen’s performance as Rhonda the tomboy tough girl who is clueless that her best friend is in love with her had the audience uncontrollably laughing as she paced back and forth striking numerous funny positions to “trick” the painting her friend gave her. The scene “They Fell” acted by Jordan Dettmann and Paul Icenogle was about two best friends who while hanging out admitted their feelings for each other, and physical fell in love with each other. Both Dettmann and Icenogle had the audience hysterically laughing as they fell over themselves trying to get closer to each other while they were both falling, and it was emotionally to see how fast the friendship between them sprouted into love.
In conclusion, the play Almost, Maine was a beautifully done romantic comedy with amazing acting and storytelling. The scene design of the play was a bit simplistic, but the little amount of scene design was used well to switch between scenes quickly and it added more emphasis on the actually acting of the performers.
Almost Main the cutesy romantic comedy by John Cariani and directed by Sarah Hinz. The play is about love stories of the people living in the town Almost, Maine. This play is made up of many small stories all with the theme of love. This style is great to show many different characters and different places. The show has many great scenes and some very odd events that happen.
One hilarious and odd scene that stood out portrayed two snowmobile enthusiasts Jordan Dettmann and Paul Icenogle literally “falling” as they fell in love with each other. The connection the characters had as friends could be felt by everyone in the audience and they were hilarious. Everyone laughed when Paul fell over and admitted that he fell in love, then he couldn’t stop falling over. It changes from funny to heartwarming as Jordan starts falling over in love too. The commitment the actors had when they fell could be heard by everyone as loud bangs thunder across the stage as they fell over and over again. Another part that stood out was the boot falling from the sky during the scene with the couple and their anniversary. Where the boot fell from was a mystery to both characters and audience. There were many odd and funny scenes and they helped make for a great play.
The scenery was very minimalistic which made transitions seem easy and natural. To show change of scenes there where props that the actors seemed to be constantly bringing in and taking out such as a bench or a door. The lighting on the ground and in the background along with the white material that was spread out across the stage created interesting colors and made for a great snowy environment.
The funny and cute play Almost Maine was a made great by amazingly talented and funny actors. The lighting and scenery, even if it was minimalistic, worked well. The style of having many stories caused there to be many different scenes and worked well even if very little time was given for each character. Almost Maine was a very funny and heartwarming play.
Filled with corny one-liners, witty comebacks, and slapstick humor that the audience couldn’t help but laugh at, UMD’s Stage Two Theatre’s production of Almost, Maine took a refreshing and light-hearted perspective on love and its individuality. Under the direction of Sarah Hinz, Stage Two successfully illustrated the experiences of love from multiple perspectives. The production brought nine very different stories from nineteen unique and memorable characters falling in and out of love in the almost-town of Almost, Maine to the stage and effectively portrayed the central theme of the individuality of love.
Each cast member gave very believable and engaging performances which contributed a big portion to the all-around success of the play. Though many of the scenes were memorable, a particularly notable and stand-out performance was given by Amanda Hennen. As the character of Rhonda, Hennen gave a hilarious performance in the scene “Seeing the Thing.” Rhonda’s loud, bubbly personality made her a likeable character and Hennen really played the part well with highly exaggerated movement which added to the hilarity of the scene.
Additionally, Paul Icenogle and Erin Hartford gave exceptional performances as the characters of Phil and Marci. Although their story was less light-hearted than the rest, Icenogle and Hartford gave a powerful performance nonetheless. They both portrayed such raw emotion that it seemed as if the two actors experienced the same hurt and anger their characters felt as they argued. Their very believable and realistic performance gave the reminder that not every love story has a happy ending.
Another aspect of the production which greatly contributed to the play was the set, done by scenic designer Suzannah Weiss. Because of the serial structure of the play, the set had to be able to be changed quickly. The simplicity of the set allowed quick transitions to happen but also effectively and realistically brought the atmosphere of northern Maine to the stage through the use of tree silhouettes and a white floor to imitate snow. The set gave the impression that the events took place in the wilderness, right on the edge of civilization. Weiss designed the set to feel like a disorganized community that didn’t quite constitute a real town. She achieved a haphazard atmosphere by showing only one location at once which gave the houses, apartments, bars, and other locations a sense of being spread out with no real rhyme or reason while still being part of the same community.
Through exceptional and realistic acting and scene design, Almost, Maine successfully demonstrated the individuality of love by telling the stories of various unique characters as they find, lose, and explore love. It clearly demonstrated the unique and contrasting nature of love as it presented examples of love being experienced as both awkward and adorable, heartwarming and heartbreaking. The use of humor combined with the realistic nature of the production made for an engaging performance that successfully illustrated how there is no single way to experience love.
The showing of Almost, Maine was an interesting play to say the least. It was difficult to follow and had no real structure in terms of how the play was written. I feel Sarah Hinz and her Stage 2 cast did an exception job on this play with what they were given in terms of a script. This play can be either intriguing or boring depending on what the audience is looking for in a play. If they were looking for a play with meaning or depth, this play would’ve come out very shallow and it had very little meaning behind anything. If they were looking for a short play to go for fun on a Friday night it was a decent play to go to.
One of the major factors in the quality of this play is the lack of story behind it all. This play tried to convey a message of many different types of love, but when doing so it forgot to connect all of the actors in anyway. There was a vague attempt at this by saying they’re all from the same place, but none of the actors saw each other outside of their separate scenes. This did not allow for a lot of thinking behind the play. During the entire play some of the audience was waiting for the play to come together and was hoping for one scene to bring it all together, which never happened. It was almost like they took endings to separate plays and tried to make them all have the same effect on the audience. The audience should be able to bring the play back to a couple main characters, which never happened. There was no connection to any of the characters for more than a couple of seconds.
One thing this play could’ve done to improve it’s quality is not having so many love stories. Let the audience focus in on the personal stories and let them get connected to the actors on a much more deep level. One of the themes they tried to portray was how love overcomes all obstacles. This was a good theme to try and portray but you can’t try and portray this one theme through 20 different people otherwise it becomes hard to follow. Generally a theme is attached to one person or a group of people who are in someway connected, and not just that they are in love.
The one positive someone can take away from this play is how the actors sold it. There was too many actors that had outstanding performances so I cannot name them all. Even though we did not see one specific actor go through changes you could still feel the feelings the actors were trying to portray. They did a marvelous job at portraying feelings such as love, confusion, hatred, shock, not feeling anything, and many other feelings not mentioned.
Overall, Almost, Maine was not worth doing. The talent behind these actors conveyed some small thoughts after the show but overall it is a forgettable script. Much of the audience had forgotten about what any of these small scenes were about possibly by the time they walked out the door. The only way a play like this would be alright to go to is if you are looking for something to pass the time. To sum up all of this review, the script of this play was something worth forgetting, but Stage 2 did a good job with what little they had at conveying this message.
UMD Stage 2 production of Almost Maine goes beyond your stereotypical love story. It’s unique compilation of love stories differ greatly; some are heartbreaking while others warm your heart. All of the actors did a tremendous job to make the audience feel as though they were almost like a close friend, watching these relationships unfold.
The beginning scene, with two characters sitting on a bench, one trying to make a move but horribly messing it up, does a great job of introducing the notion that not all relationships are effortlessly beautiful. They are often messy and awkward, but it helps convey the message that many audience members may have gotten, that love isn’t so simple. They are reunited at the end of the production, by finally getting up the courage to show their feelings, which beautifully ties up the rest of the scenes.
One character that stood out among the rest was Amanda Hennen. She made two very memorable performances with two very different characters. As her character Glory, the audience could mourn with her over her late loved one as she traveled to find the one thing on her list. As her other character Rhonda, the audience can easily find her naïve personality hilarious as she fails to realize that her best friend is madly in love with her.
The set was also very simple, but Suzannah Weiss did a great job by making it very versatile and easy to convert the set from a living room, to a bar, to the woods. The tree outlines and the floor helped in conveying the setting of Northern Maine. Michaela Lochen also did a wonderful using warm lighting on the characters to make it more romantic and darker tones when it is nighttime during the winter
The show only ran for three days, but it was one that you wouldn’t want to miss. It was a wonderfully done romantic comedy with everything from the acting to the lighting to the set design. Stage 2 did a wonderful job of portraying the notion that love is complex and there is many ways to experience it.
Almost Maine is a play written by John Cariani and produced by Sarah Hinz, from UMD’s Stage 2 Theatre Company. The play consists of many short segments that all revolve around a common theme of romance. Each scene is centered around two characters who have a unique relationship with one another and the more time they spend together, the more they came to understand the other person’s feelings.
This play was produced in UMD’s Dudley Experimental theatre which allowed the production team to set up the stage so that it would accommodate their needs. Almost every scene had its own specific stage setup, and these scenes only lasted for about ten minutes each. At the end of each scene the stage crew would come out and replace props, such as a bench, a door frame, a couch, a coffee table, chairs, and other miscellaneous items. There were eight scenes total so all the props had to be accessible and easy to remove. The prop designer, Sophie Geerdes, did a wonderful job, as the cast and stage crew could hastily replace props within a very short time span and have the next scene up and running.
The play kicked off with a scene titled Her Heart. In this scene characters Ginette and Pete, played by Katie Keller and Tyler Carlson, are seen to have some sort of tension between the two. It turns out that Ginette had feelings for Pete but Pete didn’t know how exactly he should reciprocate his feelings to her. At the end of this scene Pete said to Ginette that she can get closer to him by being physically far away. This scene ended with Ginette leaving Pete alone on a bench, with Pete wondering what he had done wrong.
The following scenes all had a side of comedy along with the focus of romance and but the scene that got the crowd most riled up was Where It Went. In this scene characters Dave and Rhonda, played by Jordan Dettmann and Amanda Hennen, accept their feelings for each other. Dave had feelings for Rhonda and wanted to become more than friends but Rhonda who had no romantic experience whatsoever, and was afraid to commit to a relationship. Dave displayed his affection for Rhonda many times but she never caught on. He eventually told her strait up and that was when she knew what he meant. Rhonda also had feelings for Dave and the two immediately started to strip off every piece of clothing they had on, other than their under garments. Dettmann and Hennen wore an insane amount of layers, taking off multiple sweaters, t-shirts, pants, and shorts. Just when the audience thought they were done they would take off another layer, until they eventually ended the scene by having the two of them go into Rhonda’s house.
As the play reached its ending Keller and Carlson came out again as Ginette and Pete. Pete was alone and Ginette entered the scene from the opposite side that she had left from. She then went to say that she is now as close to him as she could get. Pete, in return, hugged her and confessed his feelings for her ending the play. This play started with two people who obviously had feelings for each other but didn’t know how to reciprocate their feelings, but by the end of this play they couldn’t hold it in longer and got together.
This play shows the audience, what it’s like to fall in love, or out of love. It also has scenes that some audience members can relate to, whether it be happy or sad. Almost Maine reminded the audience just how unpredictable love is with its touching stories and the actors all did an amazing job, showing great enthusiasm and such intense feelings on the stage, making it a play to remember.
Almost, Maine opened on November 10, 2016 and played through November 12th in the Black Box Theatre. The production was put on by UMD’s Stage 2 Theatre group. John Cariani did a great job of writing Almost, Maine. Almost, Maine is not only the title of the play but also the name of the town that the play took place in. The play included several different relationships. The relationships included were very real and easy for the audience to relate to. Relationships aren’t always easy and Almost, Maine did an excellent job of showing that. Whether it be bickering because the couple had a lousy time or a surprise such as an engagement ring brought out in the middle of an argument, all relationships have their difficulties and this play did a great job of showing that. From start to finish the emotional roller coaster of this play was on par.
Almost, Maine was a romantic comedy that couldn’t have fit in its genre any better. The romance throughout the play was so obvious. Each scene never drifted away from the romance vibe. The comedy throughout the play was also great. Ryan Richardson’s inner comedian was shown very clearly while he was playing the character of East. He did a great job of showing the presence of someone who had never had much experience with love and saying the wrong things at the wrong time. In addition to these characters, Erin Hartford executed her roles very well. Her character seemed very real and believable. The scenes she was in were dramatic and she didn’t slip once. Another character that had a comedian side was Amanda Hennen. Even while she was going back and forth across the stage flipping her hair trying to figure out what the mystery picture was, she never lost her composure or let out a slight grin.
Lauren and Michaela Lochen did an excellent job of lighting Almost, Maine. The lighting played a significant role in this play to show the mood, which season of the year it was, or what time of day the play was taking place at in each scene. At the very end of the play when the couple meets by the same bench they met at in the beginning of the play, the lighting sets a very intense mood and makes the audience feel the tension of the scene.
The backdrop of the Almost, Maine was unique and maneuverable which contributed a lot to each scenario because the play took place near and on a bench outside, in a restaurant, in a laundry room, back outside then into a house then back to the bench outside. These attributes made it easy to transition from scene to scene smoothly which was appealing to the audience and didn’t create any eye sores.
To wrap things up, Almost, Maine was an extraordinary play that was very attention grabbing and made a night full of laughter. Whether you’re old and wise or just a kid, this play showed that you never know where this thing called love will take you. Almost, Maine was a one of a kind romantic comedy.
Almost, Maine, a story of love told in many ways. Although you only connect with the characters for a short time, it is easy to feel the raw emotion pouring through. With minimal scenery and having the audience close, the stage gave off a sort of closeness that let you relate to the characters quite easily. With the simple cutouts of the trees to the small props being brought on stage over a ray of northern lights, this was a play that makes you feel at home. One of the things that brought this play together was the romantic comedy feel. From puny one-liners to pouring out your love, this play had it. The stage designer, Michela Lochen, added drama by throwing down deep blues to add to that love story feel. It was a nice touch adding the northern light in between each scene. This was a good way to tie the play together in a psychological way. Even though there may not have been the same actors in each scene, there seemed to be a sense of love flowing throughout it. One of the more exciting characters was Amanda Hennen and her role as Rhonda. With her over emphasis on energy and excitement, it made her jokes and one liners that much more funny. Pairing her together with Jordan Dettman was a good choice with their matching levels of enthusiasm with the roles. Another reason they worked so well together was awkwardness they brought to their roles. With Jordan being in love with Rhonda and Rhonda, being the tomboy she is, is blind to the fact. That awkwardness really seemed to bring them together. One of the scenes that seemed a bit of to me was the one with the two guys who fell in love. This scene started off well and as it went on, the jokes and acting seemed to drift off. When they literally “fell” in love with each other it was a bit overplayed a few too many times which drew attention away from the point. It was very distracting scene that threw off the essence of the play as a whole. One of the more memorable parts of the play was when we were able to see Tyler Carlson and Kathryn playing, as Pete and Ginette, come full circle at the end of the play. This was something sitting in the back of your mind from the beginning and had you itching to find out how it came back around, literally. Overall, Almost, Maine was a well done comedic performance with a perfect touch of love that instantly connected you with the characters. Although it was a simple play, it added a great effect to the actors, which allowed them to shine. The lighting and sounds played a key role in setting the mood for each scene and it certainly did its job. Along with that was the small stage that gave Almost Maine that small town feel. It was a great way to spend a Thursday night.
“Almost Maine”, directed by Sarah Hinz had minimalistic scenic design, and little lighting , but it was filled with classic love stories. The costume design had an overall effect on what the theme of the skit was.
Although the set was not realistic, the corny love stories were relatable and felt like real life. It emphasized that love was not a one size fit. In the director’s notes, the stories were not just corny, but was “honest.”
The scene that stood out would have to be “Getting it back,” it shows the struggle of couples who would want to take their relationship to the next level.
In the scene “This hurts” was another scene that would be notable. The man who felt no pain would have not been relatable to the audience, but would be in a sense where the audience thought he was lucky. Lucky enough to not feel heartbreak, as it was one of the most painful feelings. The female in the skit was another story, someone who has been in abusive relationship, someone who is in denial, due to how much she loved her boyfriend. It took falling for another person to see that the relationship was toxic.
The set was made of cardboard, and the lighting was minimal, but it gave off the mood of the performance. The scenic designer Suzannah Weiss did not create a realistic scenery, but pulled it off, because it set in how cheesy the performance was. The lighting designer Michela Lochen used little lighting, showing less was more. Lochen set in the mood for winter. The lighting for the northern lights was classic. It was not as extravagant as “The strange case of Dr. Jekyll, and Mr. Hyde,” but it made the scene “Her heart,” where the wife was saying goodbye to her husband meaningful, and light.
The costume designer Andrew Chmelar designed costumes that fit with the theme of winter, and the theme of how each character got their heartbroken. The notable scene where the costume truly fitted was “Sad and Hurt,” with the costume of Jimmy, showing him to be a broken down man.
Overall, “Almost Maine,” was a heartwarming performance, with little scenic and lighting effects. It showed honesty through the corny love stories, and the emotions felt real.
UMD Stage 2’s production of Almost, Maine was definitely a fun time for all. This cute romantic comedy’s collection of situations and dilemmas most likely hit home for many in the audience on at least one occasion; which is part of what made the night so enjoyable. While the relatable nature of the show helps create the connection between the actors and actresses and the audience, that connection is strengthened through the simple set design and the familiar costuming. First of all, the problems that these couples were working through are so commonplace in the relationships of today, helping create that connection between the audience and the actors. The awkward man at the bench, the lost love at the bar, and the forgotten anniversary are things that many audience members have been through in their lives. While sometimes going to a play involving absurd situations can be enjoyable, a show that connects to the audience in the way that Almost, Maine does will certainly keep the audience engaged. The simple set design also helped establish this connection. Most scenes consisted of simply a bench, a door, a table, or a few coolers. The sets were just enough to let the audience know what was going on, but not extravagant and elaborate. The simple sets brought the focus onto the dialogue and the actions happening onstage, making that connection stronger yet. Also, the simple sets are easily moveable and adaptable, making the scene transitions smooth and making the overall production more enjoyable. Lastly, the costuming. Although it didn’t take place in Minnesota, the costumes of the Northeasterners in Almost, Maine felt familiar to us here in Duluth. The hats, scarves, coats, boots, snowsuits, and flannels that decorated the actors and actresses reflect many of the styles that we wear every day. The costumes could be considered the final brick that completes the connection with the audience. All of these elements combined help the audience feel like they could be in these situations, wearing these clothes, and feeling the same emotions as the characters. Overall, Almost, Maine is an interesting look into the struggles and the joys of love. Love is one of the fundamental concepts of humanity and an integral part of most people’s lives. The audience was able to further connect their own experiences to this show through its use of simple sets and familiar costumes. This connection allowed Almost, Maine to be not just something to go see on a Saturday night, but rather an introspect into one’s experiences and struggles with love. -Matthew Skansberg
Almost Maine is a comedic romance play that premiered November 10th-12th in the Dudley Experimental Theatre at the University of Minnesota Duluth. It contained many different snippets of love stories written by John Cariani that had a comedic twist to make it more interesting. Director Sarah Hinz did an amazing job of illustrating the script through the actors, with details that made every scene unbelievably real.
The cast was spectacular in the sense that they performed each scene with so much passion and emotion that can clearly be seen and felt by the audience. One example from the play is the scene where a woman decided to camp out in the front yard of a man’s house to watch the Northern Lights. She had these dreamy eyes that stared off into space as she spoke about how beautiful the Lights were and how exciting she is to see them, disregarding the fact that she was on someone else’s property. Another scene is when two friends started getting a bit intimate by aggressively taking off their layers of clothes that seemed never ending very quickly and ran into the house. The emotions portrayed in these scenes were so realistic that it was as if the audience were disregarded because most people wouldn’t be able to act in front of others let alone passionately kiss their lover, as the actors did. One scene that stood out to the audience was when Paul Icenogle and Jordan Dettman literally fell in love with each other after having a few drinks. They confessed their love for one another and repeatedly fell on the ground hard, which got a few chuckles from the audience. It was the perfect mix of a sweet romance with a touch of comedy to keep the audience enlightened, which is what Hinz portrayed with these specific scenes.
The scene design was very minimal and simple, but illustrated the wintery feel to the play. The floor was splattered with white paint with a hint of blue that reflected off from the lights, done by Lauren and Michaela. The lights were a lot of blues and purples to compliment the season occasionally displaying spotlights on Throughout the different scenes, different props were maneuvered around and changed to fit the particular scene. The opening scene was minimalistic in regards to props, with a bench and a soft spotlight on the two characters. Other scenes, like the ones at the house, required the life-sized front door of a house cut out to make them seem more realistic. The costumes were in simple forms winter attire. There was a lot of hats, scarves, mittens, jackets and boots displayed by the cast throughout the scenes. Some scenes, like when the two characters were stripping their layers of clothes before running into the house, had detailed costumes while other scenes such as when the two guys were sharing a drink before literally falling in love, had on simple costumes topped with a hat and heavy winter boots. These different types of scenes were consistently portraying the time and specific settings of the play for a realistic feel.
The show Almost Maine was directed by Sarah Hinz who is the president of the student run theater company. The play was a combination of nine short scripts. The artist attempt to connect the sweet and bitter challenges of love was done beautifully. The play was directed to make the audience feel all kinds of emotional rush from one scene to another. At times, it was very direct about the message it was trying to portray. Then at times it was metaphorical and layered with deep life lessons. The conversations between the characters were the conversation everyone have had with their partners at some point in their relationship. Thus, the script was very relatable and familiar to the audience’s ear. Each scene highlighted a different kind of life struggle. For example, at one scene the husband and wife were sitting in an ice rink and the wife had lost her shoes and was trying to find it. Then she had a conversation with her husband that started out about a lost shoe but turned in to an argument about their marriage. They realized they had lost their love and have become very bitter to one another. Then the shoes drop from the sky and then they both learn that they were waiting for each other to solve the problems on their own. This gave the realization that a relationship is a two-way street and life is a chain of events. The most captivating and inspirational part of the show was the use of objects. There was a girlfriend who was so convinced that her boyfriend doesn't love her as much as she loved him. Her anger had driven her to completely abandon her judgment, that she demanded her boyfriend to give her back all the love she gave him. He gave her a small red bag but she had brought him numerous huge red and pink bags. In that moment, the emotional response in the audience was pain she was feeling. The most beautiful and breathtaking relief everyone felt was satisfying once she opens the little red bag. Which had an engagement ring in box and her boyfriend was on his knee. The play had huge gestures in small packets and valuable lessons. The way each costume and object was designed to create the atmosphere was impeccable. Every aspect of the play was brilliant and heartwarming. There was no object, sound or even words that didn't carry a significant amount of meaning for the character’s life. There were multiple valuable moments of lessons that kept the audience at the edge of their seats. Also, laughable mistake everyone makes in their relationship that's silly but seemed very significant to them at the time. The unpredictability of each scenes ending gave the play its essence. Almost Maine was worth attending and highly recommended.
The recent showing of Almost, Maine by John Cariani was performed by UMD’s Stage 2 Theatre Company, and was most recently directed by Sarah Hinz. The performance was fascinating and eccentric with a great amount of charm, to say the least. Overall though, the play lacked arrangement. Contingent on the audience’s perspective, this show requires little thought, and is more of a lighthearted production with one common message: love works on many different avenues and in many different ways.
The opening scene with Tyler Carlson as Pete; and Katie Keller as Ginnette; set the tone for the show, letting the audience feel a bit of awkwardness and a bit of light heartedness, eventually leading into laughter. Pete describes that ‘love knows no distance’ through a snowball and that the further away they are from each other, the closer they are together. Ginnette then leaves Pete on the bench alone, bewildered, bringing the audience through a compendium of emotions. While both actors have a pronounced finesse for acting, at moments throughout the scene it appeared that both characters had left ‘themselves’ as actors.
On an exceedingly comical note, Paul Icenogle as Phil; and Jordan Dettmann as Dave; brought their two comedic abilities together brilliantly to the scene “They Fell”. Paul Icenogle’s ability to portray his character is evidenced through his strong body language, adding to the charisma he played as Phil. Over a few beers, and after loosening up, the two express their feelings and emotions for each other. They kept literally falling for each other, having the audience falling out of their chairs in laughter. ‘Almost’ the highlight of the play, those that fall sometimes fall the hardest. Dettmann and Icenogle’s performance levels, unlike their characters, didn’t fall during this scene, keeping the audience wanting a reappearance of this duo on stage once more.
More laughter abounds when Jordan Dettmann once again takes the stage with Amanda Hennen as Rhonda, in “Seeing the Thing”. Dettmann and Hennen’s acting throughout the scene are intense and appear natural; both entertaining the audience through their natural abilities; bringing the audience once again in an uproar of laughter. Two close friends, Dave and Rhonda come off of a snowmobiling adventure, in a massif amount of layers. When Dave presents his friend a piece of art as a gift, she has no idea what ‘the thing’ is. He had plainly painted his heart into it; she just can’t see ‘it’. Rhonda catches on, and when they kiss, its as though she ‘gets the picture’. Rhonda wants to explore more about ‘it’ when a massif amount of clothes start coming off and they disappear into her house, leaving the audience knowing that Rhonda is going to get even closer to ‘seeing the thing’.
As Almost, Maine comes to a close and finally ‘comes full circle’, Pete returns to stage. As Pete waits on the bench, Ginnette appears out of nowhere and starts running toward him. He looks at his snowball perplexed, bringing the audience into full realization of why she left: to prove her love. When their emotions for each other are proclaimed, the awkwardness at the beginning of the play is resolved. Bravo to sound supervisor Jon Brophy, and sound faculty advisor Mark Harvey, for helping end the show with Colbie Caillat’s “falling for you”. Lighthearted and upbeat, it reminded the audience that everyone falls in different ways.
Almost, Maine was a picturesque performance about love in the fictional town of Almost Maine. The mixture of drama and comedy created an enjoyable performance that gave refreshing laughs and made each storyline one to enjoy. Director Sarah Hinz successfully emphasized a small town feeling during each scene and made the audience feel at home. The distinct and relatable character’s experiences with love felt genuine, and successfully represented the theme of love.
Almost, Maine was presented in the Dudley Experimental Theatre at the University of Minnesota Duluth which meant that the set design would be on the small side. The Scenic Designer Suzannah Weiss cleverly used this to her advantage by creating a minimalistic set. The background contained tree silhouettes and false snow to give the impression of winter in a forest. Each scene only required a few set pieces to be used, such as a deck with a door, or a cooler and a bench. This allowed for quick scene changes that kept the play moving seamlessly. The spacial awareness of the set made each scene feel lonely and isolated, fitting the idea of a small town that is spread out with no big urban areas. But even so, there was a feeling of community expressed to make the characters and audience feel a sense of togetherness.
The actors did a superb job at making each character seem realistic and engaging, which contributed to the performance becoming a memorable one. Paul Icenogle and Erin Hartford were especially memorable as Phil and Marci. Although their scene detracted from the overall light and feel-good tone of the play, it was very moving. Both actors exemplified the pain their characters felt very clearly, and the scene was heartbreaking to watch. Through this realistic and compelling story, the play exhibited the idea that not every relationship will experience happiness until the end.
Another scene that was unforgettable was “They Fell”. This scene included Icenogle and Jordan Dettmann portraying two best friends down on their luck with women. Their jovial natures produced roaring laughs and emitted a carefree mood. The ending of the scene was extremely emotional, and had the audience cheering exuberantly at the ending. The entire scene was very moving, and both Dettmann and Icenogle played large roles in making the scene highly entertaining.
By utilizing a clever scene design and lifelike acting, Almost, Maine exhibited the unconventional ways love brings people together, or tears them apart. The humorous and lovable characters made each scene a joy to experience. By including different storylines in which love brought people together by chance or by heartbreak, the performance showed that love finds everyone in different ways.
Almost Maine (Stage 2 Theatre Company) Kevin Hendrickson
Presented in the Dudley Experimental Theatre at the University of Minnesota Duluth and directed by student Director Sarah Heinz, John Cariani’s Almost Maine was a picture-perfect performance about love in the fictional town of Almost Maine. The show was a true romantic comedy staged between nine different stories that all deal with the centralized, universal theme of love at first sight, but also dealing with falling out of love as well. The scene design done by Suzannah Weiss was very minimalistic at best, making use small cut-outs of a forestry and foliage as a backdrop, blue mood lighting to give the impression of an early evening, as well as easy to move set pieces making the scene transitions effortless and efficient on time. This simple scene design functioned as an easily operated and very flexible visually element to this production. Weiss makes very good use of very simplistic elements in her scene design to convey very “larger than life” concepts in a very down to earth, small town feel. The backdrop of the production was virtually the same basic scene design used in UMD’s production of One River, but the cut out of pine trees, and the sense of nature in the background still complimented the play very well. Each member of the cast gave a very lively and engaging performance that all contributed to a larger part to the very well rounded success of this particular production. Paul Icenogle as Phil and Erin Hartford as Marci did an impeccable job bringing their respective characters to life. Even though their story was a less light-hearted and humorous in comparison to the others in this work than the rest, Paul and Erin each managed to give very gave a powerful performances. However, Amanda Hennen portraying the character of Rhonda gave another standout performance that greatly contrasted with the others. Hennen gave a wonderfully laughable performance in the scene “Seeing the Thing.” Her light hearted and quite bubbly personality made her one of the most likeable characters in this production, and Hennen really embraced the hilarity of her role well with her flamboyant and flashy movements, which only added more humor to the scene. In terms of the costume design done by sophomore theatre major Andrew Chmelar, the design took on a more simplistic Midwestern winter heir that made the visual aesthetic of this work very relatable and quite confortable for the audience to engage in, and embodied a much more realistic visual approach. When asked about his costume design, Chmelar replied “The original design was strongly influenced by the character and gave this very cute, lovey dovey feeling; [because] its Almost Maine and stupidly sweet.” This truly embodied elements simplicity, realism and humor which were all very crucial themes circulating though this well done student-made production. Through exceptional work done by actors, scene design and costume design crews, as well as the hard work dedication put forward by the Stage 2 Theatre Company, John Cariani’s Almost Maine was brought to live in a truly exceptional performance that was funny, cheesy, romantic, and lastly a well rounded and well produced work that really put the audience in awe. The good use of humor mixed in with elements of realism made for an easy to follow and really engaging performance that was very successful in displaying how there is no single way to experience love, and how love is a truly individualized perspective.
The play, “Almost, Maine”, was played in a Black box room in the Dudley Experimental Theatre at the University of Minnesota Duluth. It was also the same place where they played, “One River”. The setup was much different compared to, One River. All of the audience face only one direction, which was towards the play for Almost, Maine.
The style in how Sarah Hinz decided to present I found very interesting because, the stories went from the start of love to the end of love, instead of intertwining the part. In the first act there was romance and four different events that happened. Later on through the play you start to realize that all these event that are happening are all happening within Maine. The cool thing about the first act is that they portrayed different types of love like young and innocent love, love at first sight, love over a long period of time, and more. And it also shows how foolish people are towards love and be blinded by it and unsure. In other words there are many different types of ways to be and fall in love. Then in the second act it was much more of a complex relationship between the four different couples and also losing in love which was interesting. Not only was it romantic, but it was really funny, very cliche, cheeky, and had some very surprising parts. The actors did a great job at expressing emotions of passion and capturing their character’s character.
In one of the parts of the play I was very confused. It was the part about the shoe falling from the sky. It was very difficult to understand why that happened and what the meaning was. The design for the set was very simple, but beautiful. And the door that was used was such a simple thing to make, but it played a big part in the show. And the play was very detailed and particular in the object that they used, like the snowball. The snowball had some kind of significant meaning, but that was up to the audience to decide what it meant. This play was very successful in what they were trying to portray about love. Maybe love is like a snowball if it rolls down a hill the snow (love) will get bigger, but if it stays in one spot it’ll either stay the same or melt away. I would recommend this for other UMD student to watch it next time.
The play is about love stories of the people living in the town Almost, Maine. Almost, Maine was put on by the student run organization Stage 2 with a script by John Cariani, directed by the president of the organization Sarah Hinz. I thought director Sarah Hinz did great by emotionally connecting the audience to each character in the play. Each scene was centered around two characters who have a unique relationship with one another and the more time they spent together, the more they came to understand each other’s feeling.
Each cast member gave very believable and engaging performances which contributed a big portion to the all-around success of the play. Though many of the scenes were memorable, a particularly notable and stand-out performance was given by Amanda Hennen. Amanda Hennen stood out to among the rest. She made two very memorable performances with two very different characters. With her over emphasis on energy and excitement, it made her jokes and one liners that much more funny. Pairing her together with Jordan Dettman was a good choice with their matching levels of enthusiasm with the roles.
One of the scenes that was off to me was when the two guys who fell in love. This scene started off well and later in the play the jokes and acting seemed to drift off. When the two guys actually “fell” in love with each other it was overplayed a few too many times which drew attention away from the point. It was very distracting scene that threw off the essence of the play as a whole.
Overall, “Almost Maine,” was absolutely great and heartwarming performance. The play showed the audience what it’s like to fall in love or out of love. It also has scenes that some audience members can relate to, whether it be happy or sad.
Almost Maine was a great play to watch, because of the different techniques which were used to create this by the director. It was as if the director knew how the audience would feel about the emotion of love. The play had a climax and a end, like any other play but the director was able to fit so much in those scenes.
The story was about a love story that took place in main which was often changes from one perspective tom another to see the different points of views of love from the main characters.
The play had scenes that were really abstract which gave it a very interesting twist. The actors were able to use all there skills to almost confuse the audience, which was positive because it kept the audience engaged.
The set was very well designed. It wasn't too much and it didn't get in the way of any of the actors. I really liked how some of the props used where not fully explained but was given for the audience to give interpretation for themselves.
The play was really entertaining to watch, and the director did a great job of showing different perspectives of emotion which was easily interpreted by the audiences.
Almost Maine
ReplyDeleteMcCall Halliday
Almost Maine was an enchanting show that showcased separate love stories of the people who live in the town Almost, Maine. This play is in one word: ‘adorable’. The script by John Cariani was written in a way that made the audience invested in each new relationship even though they were only exposed to the characters for just one scene. The director Sarah Hinz was amazing at portraying the closeness of the couples and magic between their interactions. The romantic intentions of this play were done in a realistic and inspiring way.
The scenery of this show was very minimalistic. With small cut outs of a forest in the background and easy to move set pieces it made the scenes move quickly. With different locations, the minimalistic scenery made each scene believable and flexible. The scenic designer Suzannah Weiss had excellent vision when conveying the feeling of the small town with such simple background pieces. This helped convey the simple message of the show, which is “love”, with simple scenery.
Michela Lochen, the lighting designer who projected the northern lights on the set in-between each scene complimented the flexible and subtle scenery even more. The Northern Lights were an immense part of the story line as they shine down on each couple in between scenes, and Lochen was integral to promote this idea to the audience. That being said, the Northern Lights were hard to notice at first, it would have been nice to have an even greater display of the changing colors to bring this theme home.
The actress that stuck out as the most expressive was Amanda Hennen. Hennen played the roles of both Glory and Rhonda, however she excelled the most at the role of Rhonda. Hennen had the audience rolling with laughter with her interpretation of “tricking it” and her boisterous portrayal of the tomboy Rhonda. Her performance of the character was equally hilarious and heartwarming, which made her romance with Jordan Dettmann truly captivating.
Dettmann was also a truly outstanding actor because of his ability to convey the same energy Hennen was supplying. The duo seemed to be a match made in heaven. Each actor was clever and funny in their own way, creating one of the strongest scenes in the play.
Another scene that was specifically mesmerizing was “They Fell” which featured Jordan Dettmann and Paul Icenogle. These macho best friends who ended up falling for each other, were one of the most interesting couples. The performance by Dettmann and Icenogle had the audience howling with laughter. From the strong and perfectly timed hilarity of their lines, to their utter determination in their roles, this pair stole the show. The moment Dettmann and Icenogle fell to the ground over and over it seemed like the audience would never stop laughing, both actors put a lot of effort into truly falling to the ground with gusto which only added to the hilarity of the scene.
The overall heartwarming portrayal of love in this play made it worth watching from the start, however what made it even better was the outstanding performance by the actors and technicians. Each scene had its own charm which caused the audience to be lost in the story, and it felt like each scene had something new and amazing to offer. It was easy to see that the theme of love was alive and well in this fantastic performance. The performance given by the cast of Almost Maine was truly inspiring.
Almost, Maine directed by Sarah Hinz had its opening night on November 10th, 2016 and premiered through November 12th. Even though this performance was only performed three nights, it was a class A act. Almost, Maine was a mixture between comedy and romance. This romantic comedy was something both men and women would enjoy to see. Looking around, there was not one person in the audience not laughing at the corny jokes and scenes shown throughout the performance.
ReplyDeleteThe different type of romances forming created something more than just corny, it was real. Almost, Maine showed some of the true colors in different types of relationships, the happiness, problems and the beauty of love. It seemed as if the artist was trying to show that there is no one size fits all to love, but that love is as unique as every single person who experiences it. In Hinz’s notes, she states this show is supposed to encourage us to reminisce about our own experiences with love and to see the beauty in how each one is different from the next. Almost, Maine did a fantastic job achieving its goal by showing love is simply wonderful whether it is sweet, sad, funny or just a humble bunch of a mess. By setting love as a theme, it fit everyone in the audience. Everyone experiences love in some shape or form, this performance portrayed the happiness as well as the struggles in love beautifully.
Almost, Maine came with a great cast group that did not just put on a show for the audience but put on a show that felt real with real emotion. The characters played the emotions involved with love greatly. Racheal Ronding did an outrageous job creating the emotions not just in her facial expressions but also in her voice, she made the emotions build up and circle around the room in the scene Story of Hope. Almost every cast member brought realism to the audience and that seemed to tie the whole production together, without that, Almost, Maine would not have been as extraordinary as it was.
On a side note, the short scenes worked great within the Dudley Experiment Theatre helping out the characters with creating the realism. The small space formed a closeness between the characters themselves as well as their characters with the audience. This is what seemed to let the emotion swirl around the room and create the tensions that were building up on stage right in front of the eyes. During the scene This Hurts, performed by Derek Schwartz and Kendra Ashburn, the small space allowed the audience to see the heartbreak in Schwartz eyes and hear the crackle in his voice as he hears the love of his life is about to marry someone else. This had to of been one of the best kind of theatres to perform this production in.
An engaging theme, superb performers and a satisfying theatre is not all what it took to make this play what it was. Almost, Maine had a feel of coldness yet, warmth to it. How was it possible? The lighting designer, Michaela Lochen, the costume designer Andrew Chlemar, and also the scenice director Suzannah Weiss had a big part in constructing this ‘feel’ to the production. Lochen used cool colors to light up the stage with a little warmth in places so give off the thought of winter. Chlemar helped this out by having the characters wear warm looking clothing but there was also the scene backgrounds. Weiss formed a Northern look to his scenes, adding the look of snow on the ground or the trees in the background, brick houses, small town bars. Each scene seemed to tie in with the others giving off the same type of feeling.
Overall, Almost, Maine, was a marvelous production and seemed to be in the best form that they could have produced. It was simply engaging and definitely a show that could be watched again. Young or old, male or female, everyone gets a chance in their lifetime to experience some type of love and this production did a superb job showing the different paths that this thing called love can take you.
Almost Maine, directed by Sarah Hinz from UMD’s Stage 2, showed the joys and pitfalls of love. With a running time of only three days the Almost Maine opened on November 10th and ran till November 12th but even with the limited set up, practice, and running the show was one that should not have been missed. With the viewer feeling fully involved in the relationships of the characters it was hard not to feel with great hurt when something didn’t go well for a character, and likewise for joyous occasions. Thanks to the writing style of John Cariani it was easy to feel these emotions when we only meet the characters for a single scene.
ReplyDeleteWhen the show first opened we saw a couple in an awkward moment sharing a space on a park bench which gave the whole show an undertone of humor. When Tyler Carlson, playing Pete, give the awkward comment “the closer apart the further we are from each other,” not only was it humorous but when thought about more it was a moment of heartbreak.
With the set being relatively simplistic, one could still understand where they characters where, but it also gave the transitions from to scene a quick and easy feat.
The actress that held attention of most of the audience was Amanda Hennen. Hennen seemed to easily switch from a weary heart-broken traveler to a relationship timid tomboy. With her over the personality it was easy to laugh and hurt for both her characters Glory and Rhonda. Hennen’s way of “sneaking up” on the painting was hilarious and entraining to watch, making quick work of emotional connection that audience felt towards her.
Coincidently one of Hennen’s co-actors Ryan Richardson was so emotional expressive that it was difficult to take one’s eyes off of him. Richardson played two pretty serious characters Lendall and Easton and he did it so effortlessly it was difficult to feel hurt for the characters that he played. In a contrast to the more serious roles that Richardson played co-actor Mitchell Dettmann gave the audience a laugh with his wild gestures and happy go lucky smile. Dettmann really broke up some of the heavier contact of the play and did it with ease.
Overall, Almost Maine is a perfect play for anyone looking for one of the closest meanings to love there is. With its ups and downs, happiness and pitfalls, and humor and sadness. In some ways you could say that the play and all the cast shows that love is full circle.
Kjersta Unzen
Originally scripted by John Cariani, Sarah Hinz, president of Stage 2 Theatre Company, has found a way of directing this play and its stories. Therefore, the way the play was put together it was nice to be able to follow along with the relationships and what was occurring. It was possible to easily be affected with a relationship or the characters because of how the performers felt and how easily relatable it was. This comic production was able to relate to the audience and the audience members were hysterically enjoying every second of it. Sarah Hinz sure knows how to entertain a crowd and keep them engaged. This would be a great show for people that are imbued with emotions and want to express them or even the opposite of that, it is a roller coaster of emotions and will leave the viewer wanting more of everything.
ReplyDeleteFrom the moment the play started it was noticeable that the play would be a humorous romantic comedy. It was great with starting the show with a funny awkward scene because then the audience members were able to feel how the play would be like. From that, Suzannah Weiss, the scenic designer and Michaela Lochen, the lighting designer both did a great job for each scene. Because of that, it also made the play seem more real and relatable and made everything seem like it went together. To go on, the way Suzannah Weiss designed the scene made it actually look northern and all the small contributions.
Other than the scenes and designers, all the performers did a great job but some that stood out and had a great impact on what they were doing. Such as Paul Icenogle and Jordan Dettman who fell for each other and literally kept falling on the ground and getting back up again and then falling again made the audience feel something. Other performers were Rachel Ronding and Amanda Hennen they also affected the audience by their great performances. Another thing was the location of the play. The Dudley Experimental Theatre was a great choice because it was easier for the audience members to feel close and included.
The play was able to portray the various relationships that are possible and how not everyone will react the same or have similar relationships. The emotions were all over, it would be great if more people were able to see it because it was truly changing and impactful and just made everyone feel great.
Almost, Maine is a romantic comedy showcasing the comedic, sad, and inspirational love stories from the residents of the town Almost, Maine. Almost, Maine is a play put on by the student run organization Stage two with a script by John Cariani, directed by the president of the organization Sarah Hinz. The director Sarah Hinz brilliantly emotionally connected the audience to each individual character in the play and made them invested in each character after just one scene. The script involved the characters for only one scene each with exception of the first scene of the play, but the characters of each scene were still interconnected and mentioned in future scenes, which gave a nice sense of a small community of people that all knew each other.
ReplyDeleteThe overall scene design was very minimalistic with either a door or bench being added between each scene, with such a minimalistic approach it made setup of each scene much quicker and made a much more actor focused play depending on the ability of the performers. The background of the play was the same used for the play One River, but the cut out of pine trees, and the sense of nature in the background still complimented the play very well. Another nice touch to the scenic design was the use of cotton/white material as snow and how they used the sense of cold as the scenes developed. For example, in the scene between Ryan Richardson as a timid tomboy trying to get his feelings across to Rhonda played by Amanda Henna, when Ryan’s character finally got his feelings across they began to strip and took off twenty layers of clothing due to the cold climate and the audience was just hysterical.
All the senses of the play were well planned out and beautifully portrayed, but the scene that stood out in everyone's mind was the very first one which was also the only one that had two other scenes in the play. The first scene of the play was featuring Tyler Carlson playing Pete and Kathryn Keller playing Ginette. The opening of the play Almost, Maine had Pete and Ginette on a bench in the middle of the snow awkwardly talking and trying to get across their feelings, and while Pete was trying to get his feelings across he accidently told Ginette to get as far away as possible to him. By the end of the play however Pete and Ginette are reunited as it looks like Ginette has traveled all the way around the world to get as close to Pete as possible, and at that realization Pete and Ginette embrace each other and the play comes to an end. This was the moment that was the most impactful and just shows how far some would go to get as close as possible to the one they love. This is one of the many fantastic stories of the play Almost, Maine and in order to pull off these fantastic scenes you need amazing actors.
There were many great actors in the play, but some of the most memorable were Amanda Hennen, Jordan Dettmann and Paul Icenogle. Amanda Hennen’s performance as Rhonda the tomboy tough girl who is clueless that her best friend is in love with her had the audience uncontrollably laughing as she paced back and forth striking numerous funny positions to “trick” the painting her friend gave her. The scene “They Fell” acted by Jordan Dettmann and Paul Icenogle was about two best friends who while hanging out admitted their feelings for each other, and physical fell in love with each other. Both Dettmann and Icenogle had the audience hysterically laughing as they fell over themselves trying to get closer to each other while they were both falling, and it was emotionally to see how fast the friendship between them sprouted into love.
In conclusion, the play Almost, Maine was a beautifully done romantic comedy with amazing acting and storytelling. The scene design of the play was a bit simplistic, but the little amount of scene design was used well to switch between scenes quickly and it added more emphasis on the actually acting of the performers.
Almost Main the cutesy romantic comedy by John Cariani and directed by Sarah Hinz. The play is about love stories of the people living in the town Almost, Maine. This play is made up of many small stories all with the theme of love. This style is great to show many different characters and different places. The show has many great scenes and some very odd events that happen.
ReplyDeleteOne hilarious and odd scene that stood out portrayed two snowmobile enthusiasts Jordan Dettmann and Paul Icenogle literally “falling” as they fell in love with each other. The connection the characters had as friends could be felt by everyone in the audience and they were hilarious. Everyone laughed when Paul fell over and admitted that he fell in love, then he couldn’t stop falling over. It changes from funny to heartwarming as Jordan starts falling over in love too. The commitment the actors had when they fell could be heard by everyone as loud bangs thunder across the stage as they fell over and over again. Another part that stood out was the boot falling from the sky during the scene with the couple and their anniversary. Where the boot fell from was a mystery to both characters and audience. There were many odd and funny scenes and they helped make for a great play.
The scenery was very minimalistic which made transitions seem easy and natural. To show change of scenes there where props that the actors seemed to be constantly bringing in and taking out such as a bench or a door. The lighting on the ground and in the background along with the white material that was spread out across the stage created interesting colors and made for a great snowy environment.
The funny and cute play Almost Maine was a made great by amazingly talented and funny actors. The lighting and scenery, even if it was minimalistic, worked well. The style of having many stories caused there to be many different scenes and worked well even if very little time was given for each character. Almost Maine was a very funny and heartwarming play.
Filled with corny one-liners, witty comebacks, and slapstick humor that the audience couldn’t help but laugh at, UMD’s Stage Two Theatre’s production of Almost, Maine took a refreshing and light-hearted perspective on love and its individuality. Under the direction of Sarah Hinz, Stage Two successfully illustrated the experiences of love from multiple perspectives. The production brought nine very different stories from nineteen unique and memorable characters falling in and out of love in the almost-town of Almost, Maine to the stage and effectively portrayed the central theme of the individuality of love.
ReplyDeleteEach cast member gave very believable and engaging performances which contributed a big portion to the all-around success of the play. Though many of the scenes were memorable, a particularly notable and stand-out performance was given by Amanda Hennen. As the character of Rhonda, Hennen gave a hilarious performance in the scene “Seeing the Thing.” Rhonda’s loud, bubbly personality made her a likeable character and Hennen really played the part well with highly exaggerated movement which added to the hilarity of the scene.
Additionally, Paul Icenogle and Erin Hartford gave exceptional performances as the characters of Phil and Marci. Although their story was less light-hearted than the rest, Icenogle and Hartford gave a powerful performance nonetheless. They both portrayed such raw emotion that it seemed as if the two actors experienced the same hurt and anger their characters felt as they argued. Their very believable and realistic performance gave the reminder that not every love story has a happy ending.
Another aspect of the production which greatly contributed to the play was the set, done by scenic designer Suzannah Weiss. Because of the serial structure of the play, the set had to be able to be changed quickly. The simplicity of the set allowed quick transitions to happen but also effectively and realistically brought the atmosphere of northern Maine to the stage through the use of tree silhouettes and a white floor to imitate snow. The set gave the impression that the events took place in the wilderness, right on the edge of civilization. Weiss designed the set to feel like a disorganized community that didn’t quite constitute a real town. She achieved a haphazard atmosphere by showing only one location at once which gave the houses, apartments, bars, and other locations a sense of being spread out with no real rhyme or reason while still being part of the same community.
Through exceptional and realistic acting and scene design, Almost, Maine successfully demonstrated the individuality of love by telling the stories of various unique characters as they find, lose, and explore love. It clearly demonstrated the unique and contrasting nature of love as it presented examples of love being experienced as both awkward and adorable, heartwarming and heartbreaking. The use of humor combined with the realistic nature of the production made for an engaging performance that successfully illustrated how there is no single way to experience love.
The showing of Almost, Maine was an interesting play to say the least. It was difficult to follow and had no real structure in terms of how the play was written. I feel Sarah Hinz and her Stage 2 cast did an exception job on this play with what they were given in terms of a script. This play can be either intriguing or boring depending on what the audience is looking for in a play. If they were looking for a play with meaning or depth, this play would’ve come out very shallow and it had very little meaning behind anything. If they were looking for a short play to go for fun on a Friday night it was a decent play to go to.
ReplyDeleteOne of the major factors in the quality of this play is the lack of story behind it all. This play tried to convey a message of many different types of love, but when doing so it forgot to connect all of the actors in anyway. There was a vague attempt at this by saying they’re all from the same place, but none of the actors saw each other outside of their separate scenes. This did not allow for a lot of thinking behind the play. During the entire play some of the audience was waiting for the play to come together and was hoping for one scene to bring it all together, which never happened. It was almost like they took endings to separate plays and tried to make them all have the same effect on the audience. The audience should be able to bring the play back to a couple main characters, which never happened. There was no connection to any of the characters for more than a couple of seconds.
One thing this play could’ve done to improve it’s quality is not having so many love stories. Let the audience focus in on the personal stories and let them get connected to the actors on a much more deep level. One of the themes they tried to portray was how love overcomes all obstacles. This was a good theme to try and portray but you can’t try and portray this one theme through 20 different people otherwise it becomes hard to follow. Generally a theme is attached to one person or a group of people who are in someway connected, and not just that they are in love.
The one positive someone can take away from this play is how the actors sold it. There was too many actors that had outstanding performances so I cannot name them all. Even though we did not see one specific actor go through changes you could still feel the feelings the actors were trying to portray. They did a marvelous job at portraying feelings such as love, confusion, hatred, shock, not feeling anything, and many other feelings not mentioned.
Overall, Almost, Maine was not worth doing. The talent behind these actors conveyed some small thoughts after the show but overall it is a forgettable script. Much of the audience had forgotten about what any of these small scenes were about possibly by the time they walked out the door. The only way a play like this would be alright to go to is if you are looking for something to pass the time. To sum up all of this review, the script of this play was something worth forgetting, but Stage 2 did a good job with what little they had at conveying this message.
UMD Stage 2 production of Almost Maine goes beyond your stereotypical love story. It’s unique compilation of love stories differ greatly; some are heartbreaking while others warm your heart. All of the actors did a tremendous job to make the audience feel as though they were almost like a close friend, watching these relationships unfold.
ReplyDeleteThe beginning scene, with two characters sitting on a bench, one trying to make a move but horribly messing it up, does a great job of introducing the notion that not all relationships are effortlessly beautiful. They are often messy and awkward, but it helps convey the message that many audience members may have gotten, that love isn’t so simple. They are reunited at the end of the production, by finally getting up the courage to show their feelings, which beautifully ties up the rest of the scenes.
One character that stood out among the rest was Amanda Hennen. She made two very memorable performances with two very different characters. As her character Glory, the audience could mourn with her over her late loved one as she traveled to find the one thing on her list. As her other character Rhonda, the audience can easily find her naïve personality hilarious as she fails to realize that her best friend is madly in love with her.
The set was also very simple, but Suzannah Weiss did a great job by making it very versatile and easy to convert the set from a living room, to a bar, to the woods. The tree outlines and the floor helped in conveying the setting of Northern Maine. Michaela Lochen also did a wonderful using warm lighting on the characters to make it more romantic and darker tones when it is nighttime during the winter
The show only ran for three days, but it was one that you wouldn’t want to miss. It was a wonderfully done romantic comedy with everything from the acting to the lighting to the set design. Stage 2 did a wonderful job of portraying the notion that love is complex and there is many ways to experience it.
Almost Maine is a play written by John Cariani and produced by Sarah Hinz, from UMD’s Stage 2 Theatre Company. The play consists of many short segments that all revolve around a common theme of romance. Each scene is centered around two characters who have a unique relationship with one another and the more time they spend together, the more they came to understand the other person’s feelings.
ReplyDeleteThis play was produced in UMD’s Dudley Experimental theatre which allowed the production team to set up the stage so that it would accommodate their needs. Almost every scene had its own specific stage setup, and these scenes only lasted for about ten minutes each. At the end of each scene the stage crew would come out and replace props, such as a bench, a door frame, a couch, a coffee table, chairs, and other miscellaneous items. There were eight scenes total so all the props had to be accessible and easy to remove. The prop designer, Sophie Geerdes, did a wonderful job, as the cast and stage crew could hastily replace props within a very short time span and have the next scene up and running.
The play kicked off with a scene titled Her Heart. In this scene characters Ginette and Pete, played by Katie Keller and Tyler Carlson, are seen to have some sort of tension between the two. It turns out that Ginette had feelings for Pete but Pete didn’t know how exactly he should reciprocate his feelings to her. At the end of this scene Pete said to Ginette that she can get closer to him by being physically far away. This scene ended with Ginette leaving Pete alone on a bench, with Pete wondering what he had done wrong.
The following scenes all had a side of comedy along with the focus of romance and but the scene that got the crowd most riled up was Where It Went. In this scene characters Dave and Rhonda, played by Jordan Dettmann and Amanda Hennen, accept their feelings for each other. Dave had feelings for Rhonda and wanted to become more than friends but Rhonda who had no romantic experience whatsoever, and was afraid to commit to a relationship. Dave displayed his affection for Rhonda many times but she never caught on. He eventually told her strait up and that was when she knew what he meant. Rhonda also had feelings for Dave and the two immediately started to strip off every piece of clothing they had on, other than their under garments. Dettmann and Hennen wore an insane amount of layers, taking off multiple sweaters, t-shirts, pants, and shorts. Just when the audience thought they were done they would take off another layer, until they eventually ended the scene by having the two
of them go into Rhonda’s house.
As the play reached its ending Keller and Carlson came out again as Ginette and Pete. Pete was alone and Ginette entered the scene from the opposite side that she had left from. She then went to say that she is now as close to him as she could get. Pete, in return, hugged her and confessed his feelings for her ending the play. This play started with two people who obviously had feelings for each other but didn’t know how to reciprocate their feelings, but by the end of this play they couldn’t hold it in longer and got together.
This play shows the audience, what it’s like to fall in love, or out of love. It also has scenes that some audience members can relate to, whether it be happy or sad. Almost Maine reminded the audience just how unpredictable love is with its touching stories and the actors all did an amazing job, showing great enthusiasm and such intense feelings on the stage, making it a play to remember.
Almost, Maine opened on November 10, 2016 and played through November 12th in the Black Box Theatre. The production was put on by UMD’s Stage 2 Theatre group. John Cariani did a great job of writing Almost, Maine. Almost, Maine is not only the title of the play but also the name of the town that the play took place in. The play included several different relationships. The relationships included were very real and easy for the audience to relate to. Relationships aren’t always easy and Almost, Maine did an excellent job of showing that. Whether it be bickering because the couple had a lousy time or a surprise such as an engagement ring brought out in the middle of an argument, all relationships have their difficulties and this play did a great job of showing that. From start to finish the emotional roller coaster of this play was on par.
ReplyDeleteAlmost, Maine was a romantic comedy that couldn’t have fit in its genre any better. The romance throughout the play was so obvious. Each scene never drifted away from the romance vibe. The comedy throughout the play was also great. Ryan Richardson’s inner comedian was shown very clearly while he was playing the character of East. He did a great job of showing the presence of someone who had never had much experience with love and saying the wrong things at the wrong time. In addition to these characters, Erin Hartford executed her roles very well. Her character seemed very real and believable. The scenes she was in were dramatic and she didn’t slip once. Another character that had a comedian side was Amanda Hennen. Even while she was going back and forth across the stage flipping her hair trying to figure out what the mystery picture was, she never lost her composure or let out a slight grin.
Lauren and Michaela Lochen did an excellent job of lighting Almost, Maine. The lighting played a significant role in this play to show the mood, which season of the year it was, or what time of day the play was taking place at in each scene. At the very end of the play when the couple meets by the same bench they met at in the beginning of the play, the lighting sets a very intense mood and makes the audience feel the tension of the scene.
The backdrop of the Almost, Maine was unique and maneuverable which contributed a lot to each scenario because the play took place near and on a bench outside, in a restaurant, in a laundry room, back outside then into a house then back to the bench outside. These attributes made it easy to transition from scene to scene smoothly which was appealing to the audience and didn’t create any eye sores.
To wrap things up, Almost, Maine was an extraordinary play that was very attention grabbing and made a night full of laughter. Whether you’re old and wise or just a kid, this play showed that you never know where this thing called love will take you. Almost, Maine was a one of a kind romantic comedy.
Almost, Maine, a story of love told in many ways. Although you only connect with the characters for a short time, it is easy to feel the raw emotion pouring through. With minimal scenery and having the audience close, the stage gave off a sort of closeness that let you relate to the characters quite easily. With the simple cutouts of the trees to the small props being brought on stage over a ray of northern lights, this was a play that makes you feel at home.
ReplyDeleteOne of the things that brought this play together was the romantic comedy feel. From puny one-liners to pouring out your love, this play had it. The stage designer, Michela Lochen, added drama by throwing down deep blues to add to that love story feel. It was a nice touch adding the northern light in between each scene. This was a good way to tie the play together in a psychological way. Even though there may not have been the same actors in each scene, there seemed to be a sense of love flowing throughout it.
One of the more exciting characters was Amanda Hennen and her role as Rhonda. With her over emphasis on energy and excitement, it made her jokes and one liners that much more funny. Pairing her together with Jordan Dettman was a good choice with their matching levels of enthusiasm with the roles. Another reason they worked so well together was awkwardness they brought to their roles. With Jordan being in love with Rhonda and Rhonda, being the tomboy she is, is blind to the fact. That awkwardness really seemed to bring them together.
One of the scenes that seemed a bit of to me was the one with the two guys who fell in love. This scene started off well and as it went on, the jokes and acting seemed to drift off. When they literally “fell” in love with each other it was a bit overplayed a few too many times which drew attention away from the point. It was very distracting scene that threw off the essence of the play as a whole.
One of the more memorable parts of the play was when we were able to see Tyler Carlson and Kathryn playing, as Pete and Ginette, come full circle at the end of the play. This was something sitting in the back of your mind from the beginning and had you itching to find out how it came back around, literally.
Overall, Almost, Maine was a well done comedic performance with a perfect touch of love that instantly connected you with the characters. Although it was a simple play, it added a great effect to the actors, which allowed them to shine. The lighting and sounds played a key role in setting the mood for each scene and it certainly did its job. Along with that was the small stage that gave Almost Maine that small town feel. It was a great way to spend a Thursday night.
“Almost Maine”, directed by Sarah Hinz had minimalistic scenic design, and little lighting , but it was filled with classic love stories. The costume design had an overall effect on what the theme of the skit was.
ReplyDeleteAlthough the set was not realistic, the corny love stories were relatable and felt like real life. It emphasized that love was not a one size fit. In the director’s notes, the stories were not just corny, but was “honest.”
The scene that stood out would have to be “Getting it back,” it shows the struggle of couples who would want to take their relationship to the next level.
In the scene “This hurts” was another scene that would be notable. The man who felt no pain would have not been relatable to the audience, but would be in a sense where the audience thought he was lucky. Lucky enough to not feel heartbreak, as it was one of the most painful feelings. The female in the skit was another story, someone who has been in abusive relationship, someone who is in denial, due to how much she loved her boyfriend. It took falling for another person to see that the relationship was toxic.
The set was made of cardboard, and the lighting was minimal, but it gave off the mood of the performance. The scenic designer Suzannah Weiss did not create a realistic scenery, but pulled it off, because it set in how cheesy the performance was. The lighting designer Michela Lochen used little lighting, showing less was more. Lochen set in the mood for winter. The lighting for the northern lights was classic. It was not as extravagant as “The strange case of Dr. Jekyll, and Mr. Hyde,” but it made the scene “Her heart,” where the wife was saying goodbye to her husband meaningful, and light.
The costume designer Andrew Chmelar designed costumes that fit with the theme of winter, and the theme of how each character got their heartbroken. The notable scene where the costume truly fitted was “Sad and Hurt,” with the costume of Jimmy, showing him to be a broken down man.
Overall, “Almost Maine,” was a heartwarming performance, with little scenic and lighting effects. It showed honesty through the corny love stories, and the emotions felt real.
UMD Stage 2’s production of Almost, Maine was definitely a fun time for all. This cute romantic comedy’s collection of situations and dilemmas most likely hit home for many in the audience on at least one occasion; which is part of what made the night so enjoyable. While the relatable nature of the show helps create the connection between the actors and actresses and the audience, that connection is strengthened through the simple set design and the familiar costuming.
ReplyDeleteFirst of all, the problems that these couples were working through are so commonplace in the relationships of today, helping create that connection between the audience and the actors. The awkward man at the bench, the lost love at the bar, and the forgotten anniversary are things that many audience members have been through in their lives. While sometimes going to a play involving absurd situations can be enjoyable, a show that connects to the audience in the way that Almost, Maine does will certainly keep the audience engaged.
The simple set design also helped establish this connection. Most scenes consisted of simply a bench, a door, a table, or a few coolers. The sets were just enough to let the audience know what was going on, but not extravagant and elaborate. The simple sets brought the focus onto the dialogue and the actions happening onstage, making that connection stronger yet. Also, the simple sets are easily moveable and adaptable, making the scene transitions smooth and making the overall production more enjoyable.
Lastly, the costuming. Although it didn’t take place in Minnesota, the costumes of the Northeasterners in Almost, Maine felt familiar to us here in Duluth. The hats, scarves, coats, boots, snowsuits, and flannels that decorated the actors and actresses reflect many of the styles that we wear every day. The costumes could be considered the final brick that completes the connection with the audience. All of these elements combined help the audience feel like they could be in these situations, wearing these clothes, and feeling the same emotions as the characters.
Overall, Almost, Maine is an interesting look into the struggles and the joys of love. Love is one of the fundamental concepts of humanity and an integral part of most people’s lives. The audience was able to further connect their own experiences to this show through its use of simple sets and familiar costumes. This connection allowed Almost, Maine to be not just something to go see on a Saturday night, but rather an introspect into one’s experiences and struggles with love.
-Matthew Skansberg
Almost Maine is a comedic romance play that premiered November 10th-12th in the Dudley Experimental Theatre at the University of Minnesota Duluth. It contained many different snippets of love stories written by John Cariani that had a comedic twist to make it more interesting. Director Sarah Hinz did an amazing job of illustrating the script through the actors, with details that made every scene unbelievably real.
ReplyDeleteThe cast was spectacular in the sense that they performed each scene with so much passion and emotion that can clearly be seen and felt by the audience. One example from the play is the scene where a woman decided to camp out in the front yard of a man’s house to watch the Northern Lights. She had these dreamy eyes that stared off into space as she spoke about how beautiful the Lights were and how exciting she is to see them, disregarding the fact that she was on someone else’s property. Another scene is when two friends started getting a bit intimate by aggressively taking off their layers of clothes that seemed never ending very quickly and ran into the house. The emotions portrayed in these scenes were so realistic that it was as if the audience were disregarded because most people wouldn’t be able to act in front of others let alone passionately kiss their lover, as the actors did. One scene that stood out to the audience was when Paul Icenogle and Jordan Dettman literally fell in love with each other after having a few drinks. They confessed their love for one another and repeatedly fell on the ground hard, which got a few chuckles from the audience. It was the perfect mix of a sweet romance with a touch of comedy to keep the audience enlightened, which is what Hinz portrayed with these specific scenes.
The scene design was very minimal and simple, but illustrated the wintery feel to the play. The floor was splattered with white paint with a hint of blue that reflected off from the lights, done by Lauren and Michaela. The lights were a lot of blues and purples to compliment the season occasionally displaying spotlights on Throughout the different scenes, different props were maneuvered around and changed to fit the particular scene. The opening scene was minimalistic in regards to props, with a bench and a soft spotlight on the two characters. Other scenes, like the ones at the house, required the life-sized front door of a house cut out to make them seem more realistic. The costumes were in simple forms winter attire. There was a lot of hats, scarves, mittens, jackets and boots displayed by the cast throughout the scenes. Some scenes, like when the two characters were stripping their layers of clothes before running into the house, had detailed costumes while other scenes such as when the two guys were sharing a drink before literally falling in love, had on simple costumes topped with a hat and heavy winter boots. These different types of scenes were consistently portraying the time and specific settings of the play for a realistic feel.
Overall, Almost Maine was a collection of classic love stories comparable to no other. Not only were these relationships funny and romantic but also realistic. Not every love story has a happy ending, which was illustrated in scenes like when one girl came back from a different town to visit her ex only to find him with another woman at his place. It was generally age appropriate for a family outing apart from a few smooches here and there. As corny and cliché as some of these stories were, the play was performed with such creativity that the audience truly did not expect.
Misrak Teka
ReplyDeleteAlmost mine
UMD stage 2 Theater
The show Almost Maine was directed by Sarah Hinz who is the president of the student run theater company. The play was a combination of nine short scripts. The artist attempt to connect the sweet and bitter challenges of love was done beautifully. The play was directed to make the audience feel all kinds of emotional rush from one scene to another. At times, it was very direct about the message it was trying to portray. Then at times it was metaphorical and layered with deep life lessons. The conversations between the characters were the conversation everyone have had with their partners at some point in their relationship. Thus, the script was very relatable and familiar to the audience’s ear.
Each scene highlighted a different kind of life struggle. For example, at one scene the husband and wife were sitting in an ice rink and the wife had lost her shoes and was trying to find it. Then she had a conversation with her husband that started out about a lost shoe but turned in to an argument about their marriage. They realized they had lost their love and have become very bitter to one another. Then the shoes drop from the sky and then they both learn that they were waiting for each other to solve the problems on their own. This gave the realization that a relationship is a two-way street and life is a chain of events.
The most captivating and inspirational part of the show was the use of objects. There was a girlfriend who was so convinced that her boyfriend doesn't love her as much as she loved him. Her anger had driven her to completely abandon her judgment, that she demanded her boyfriend to give her back all the love she gave him. He gave her a small red bag but she had brought him numerous huge red and pink bags. In that moment, the emotional response in the audience was pain she was feeling. The most beautiful and breathtaking relief everyone felt was satisfying once she opens the little red bag. Which had an engagement ring in box and her boyfriend was on his knee. The play had huge gestures in small packets and valuable lessons. The way each costume and object was designed to create the atmosphere was impeccable.
Every aspect of the play was brilliant and heartwarming. There was no object, sound or even words that didn't carry a significant amount of meaning for the character’s life. There were multiple valuable moments of lessons that kept the audience at the edge of their seats. Also, laughable mistake everyone makes in their relationship that's silly but seemed very significant to them at the time. The unpredictability of each scenes ending gave the play its essence. Almost Maine was worth attending and highly recommended.
The recent showing of Almost, Maine by John Cariani was performed by UMD’s Stage 2 Theatre Company, and was most recently directed by Sarah Hinz. The performance was fascinating and eccentric with a great amount of charm, to say the least. Overall though, the play lacked arrangement. Contingent on the audience’s perspective, this show requires little thought, and is more of a lighthearted production with one common message: love works on many different avenues and in many different ways.
ReplyDeleteThe opening scene with Tyler Carlson as Pete; and Katie Keller as Ginnette; set the tone for the show, letting the audience feel a bit of awkwardness and a bit of light heartedness, eventually leading into laughter. Pete describes that ‘love knows no distance’ through a snowball and that the further away they are from each other, the closer they are together. Ginnette then leaves Pete on the bench alone, bewildered, bringing the audience through a compendium of emotions. While both actors have a pronounced finesse for acting, at moments throughout the scene it appeared that both characters had left ‘themselves’ as actors.
On an exceedingly comical note, Paul Icenogle as Phil; and Jordan Dettmann as Dave; brought their two comedic abilities together brilliantly to the scene “They Fell”. Paul Icenogle’s ability to portray his character is evidenced through his strong body language, adding to the charisma he played as Phil. Over a few beers, and after loosening up, the two express their feelings and emotions for each other. They kept literally falling for each other, having the audience falling out of their chairs in laughter. ‘Almost’ the highlight of the play, those that fall sometimes fall the hardest. Dettmann and Icenogle’s performance levels, unlike their characters, didn’t fall during this scene, keeping the audience wanting a reappearance of this duo on stage once more.
More laughter abounds when Jordan Dettmann once again takes the stage with Amanda Hennen as Rhonda, in “Seeing the Thing”. Dettmann and Hennen’s acting throughout the scene are intense and appear natural; both entertaining the audience through their natural abilities; bringing the audience once again in an uproar of laughter. Two close friends, Dave and Rhonda come off of a snowmobiling adventure, in a massif amount of layers. When Dave presents his friend a piece of art as a gift, she has no idea what ‘the thing’ is. He had plainly painted his heart into it; she just can’t see ‘it’. Rhonda catches on, and when they kiss, its as though she ‘gets the picture’. Rhonda wants to explore more about ‘it’ when a massif amount of clothes start coming off and they disappear into her house, leaving the audience knowing that Rhonda is going to get even closer to ‘seeing the thing’.
As Almost, Maine comes to a close and finally ‘comes full circle’, Pete returns to stage. As Pete waits on the bench, Ginnette appears out of nowhere and starts running toward him. He looks at his snowball perplexed, bringing the audience into full realization of why she left: to prove her love. When their emotions for each other are proclaimed, the awkwardness at the beginning of the play is resolved. Bravo to sound supervisor Jon Brophy, and sound faculty advisor Mark Harvey, for helping end the show with Colbie Caillat’s “falling for you”. Lighthearted and upbeat, it reminded the audience that everyone falls in different ways.
Almost, Maine was a picturesque performance about love in the fictional town of Almost Maine. The mixture of drama and comedy created an enjoyable performance that gave refreshing laughs and made each storyline one to enjoy. Director Sarah Hinz successfully emphasized a small town feeling during each scene and made the audience feel at home. The distinct and relatable character’s experiences with love felt genuine, and successfully represented the theme of love.
ReplyDeleteAlmost, Maine was presented in the Dudley Experimental Theatre at the University of Minnesota Duluth which meant that the set design would be on the small side. The Scenic Designer Suzannah Weiss cleverly used this to her advantage by creating a minimalistic set. The background contained tree silhouettes and false snow to give the impression of winter in a forest. Each scene only required a few set pieces to be used, such as a deck with a door, or a cooler and a bench. This allowed for quick scene changes that kept the play moving seamlessly. The spacial awareness of the set made each scene feel lonely and isolated, fitting the idea of a small town that is spread out with no big urban areas. But even so, there was a feeling of community expressed to make the characters and audience feel a sense of togetherness.
The actors did a superb job at making each character seem realistic and engaging, which contributed to the performance becoming a memorable one. Paul Icenogle and Erin Hartford were especially memorable as Phil and Marci. Although their scene detracted from the overall light and feel-good tone of the play, it was very moving. Both actors exemplified the pain their characters felt very clearly, and the scene was heartbreaking to watch. Through this realistic and compelling story, the play exhibited the idea that not every relationship will experience happiness until the end.
Another scene that was unforgettable was “They Fell”. This scene included Icenogle and Jordan Dettmann portraying two best friends down on their luck with women. Their jovial natures produced roaring laughs and emitted a carefree mood. The ending of the scene was extremely emotional, and had the audience cheering exuberantly at the ending. The entire scene was very moving, and both Dettmann and Icenogle played large roles in making the scene highly entertaining.
By utilizing a clever scene design and lifelike acting, Almost, Maine exhibited the unconventional ways love brings people together, or tears them apart. The humorous and lovable characters made each scene a joy to experience. By including different storylines in which love brought people together by chance or by heartbreak, the performance showed that love finds everyone in different ways.
Almost Maine (Stage 2 Theatre Company)
ReplyDeleteKevin Hendrickson
Presented in the Dudley Experimental Theatre at the University of Minnesota Duluth and directed by student Director Sarah Heinz, John Cariani’s Almost Maine was a picture-perfect performance about love in the fictional town of Almost Maine. The show was a true romantic comedy staged between nine different stories that all deal with the centralized, universal theme of love at first sight, but also dealing with falling out of love as well.
The scene design done by Suzannah Weiss was very minimalistic at best, making use small cut-outs of a forestry and foliage as a backdrop, blue mood lighting to give the impression of an early evening, as well as easy to move set pieces making the scene transitions effortless and efficient on time. This simple scene design functioned as an easily operated and very flexible visually element to this production. Weiss makes very good use of very simplistic elements in her scene design to convey very “larger than life” concepts in a very down to earth, small town feel. The backdrop of the production was virtually the same basic scene design used in UMD’s production of One River, but the cut out of pine trees, and the sense of nature in the background still complimented the play very well.
Each member of the cast gave a very lively and engaging performance that all contributed to a larger part to the very well rounded success of this particular production. Paul Icenogle as Phil and Erin Hartford as Marci did an impeccable job bringing their respective characters to life. Even though their story was a less light-hearted and humorous in comparison to the others in this work than the rest, Paul and Erin each managed to give very gave a powerful performances. However, Amanda Hennen portraying the character of Rhonda gave another standout performance that greatly contrasted with the others. Hennen gave a wonderfully laughable performance in the scene “Seeing the Thing.” Her light hearted and quite bubbly personality made her one of the most likeable characters in this production, and Hennen really embraced the hilarity of her role well with her flamboyant and flashy movements, which only added more humor to the scene.
In terms of the costume design done by sophomore theatre major Andrew Chmelar, the design took on a more simplistic Midwestern winter heir that made the visual aesthetic of this work very relatable and quite confortable for the audience to engage in, and embodied a much more realistic visual approach. When asked about his costume design, Chmelar replied “The original design was strongly influenced by the character and gave this very cute, lovey dovey feeling; [because] its Almost Maine and stupidly sweet.” This truly embodied elements simplicity, realism and humor which were all very crucial themes circulating though this well done student-made production.
Through exceptional work done by actors, scene design and costume design crews, as well as the hard work dedication put forward by the Stage 2 Theatre Company, John Cariani’s Almost Maine was brought to live in a truly exceptional performance that was funny, cheesy, romantic, and lastly a well rounded and well produced work that really put the audience in awe. The good use of humor mixed in with elements of realism made for an easy to follow and really engaging performance that was very successful in displaying how there is no single way to experience love, and how love is a truly individualized perspective.
The play, “Almost, Maine”, was played in a Black box room in the Dudley Experimental Theatre at the University of Minnesota Duluth. It was also the same place where they played, “One River”. The setup was much different compared to, One River. All of the audience face only one direction, which was towards the play for Almost, Maine.
ReplyDeleteThe style in how Sarah Hinz decided to present I found very interesting because, the stories went from the start of love to the end of love, instead of intertwining the part. In the first act there was romance and four different events that happened. Later on through the play you start to realize that all these event that are happening are all happening within Maine. The cool thing about the first act is that they portrayed different types of love like young and innocent love, love at first sight, love over a long period of time, and more. And it also shows how foolish people are towards love and be blinded by it and unsure. In other words there are many different types of ways to be and fall in love. Then in the second act it was much more of a complex relationship between the four different couples and also losing in love which was interesting. Not only was it romantic, but it was really funny, very cliche, cheeky, and had some very surprising parts.
The actors did a great job at expressing emotions of passion and capturing their character’s character.
In one of the parts of the play I was very confused. It was the part about the shoe falling from the sky. It was very difficult to understand why that happened and what the meaning was.
The design for the set was very simple, but beautiful. And the door that was used was such a simple thing to make, but it played a big part in the show. And the play was very detailed and particular in the object that they used, like the snowball. The snowball had some kind of significant meaning, but that was up to the audience to decide what it meant. This play was very successful in what they were trying to portray about love. Maybe love is like a snowball if it rolls down a hill the snow (love) will get bigger, but if it stays in one spot it’ll either stay the same or melt away. I would recommend this for other UMD student to watch it next time.
The play is about love stories of the people living in the town Almost, Maine. Almost, Maine was put on by the student run organization Stage 2 with a script by John Cariani, directed by the president of the organization Sarah Hinz. I thought director Sarah Hinz did great by emotionally connecting the audience to each character in the play. Each scene was centered around two characters who have a unique relationship with one another and the more time they spent together, the more they came to understand each other’s feeling.
ReplyDeleteEach cast member gave very believable and engaging performances which contributed a big portion to the all-around success of the play. Though many of the scenes were memorable, a particularly notable and stand-out performance was given by Amanda Hennen. Amanda Hennen stood out to among the rest. She made two very memorable performances with two very different characters. With her over emphasis on energy and excitement, it made her jokes and one liners that much more funny. Pairing her together with Jordan Dettman was a good choice with their matching levels of enthusiasm with the roles.
One of the scenes that was off to me was when the two guys who fell in love. This scene started off well and later in the play the jokes and acting seemed to drift off. When the two guys actually “fell” in love with each other it was overplayed a few too many times which drew attention away from the point. It was very distracting scene that threw off the essence of the play as a whole.
Overall, “Almost Maine,” was absolutely great and heartwarming performance. The play showed the audience what it’s like to fall in love or out of love. It also has scenes that some audience members can relate to, whether it be happy or sad.
Almost Maine was a great play to watch, because of the different techniques which were used to create this by the director. It was as if the director knew how the audience would feel about the emotion of love. The play had a climax and a end, like any other play but the director was able to fit so much in those scenes.
ReplyDeleteThe story was about a love story that took place in main which was often changes from one perspective tom another to see the different points of views of love from the main characters.
The play had scenes that were really abstract which gave it a very interesting twist. The actors were able to use all there skills to almost confuse the audience, which was positive because it kept the audience engaged.
The set was very well designed. It wasn't too much and it didn't get in the way of any of the actors. I really liked how some of the props used where not fully explained but was given for the audience to give interpretation for themselves.
The play was really entertaining to watch, and the director did a great job of showing different perspectives of emotion which was easily interpreted by the audiences.