Thornton Wilder’s 1938 play was shaped by his experience observing the rise of fascism in Europe. It’s a tribute to the power of community, introducing us to Grover’s Corners, a small town in New Hampshire that seems idyllic yet is clouded by sadness.
The key figure is the Stage Manager, a commentator on the routines of every day existence who’s prone to doling out homespun wisdom. Laura Rogers brings an air of measured mischief to the role: as she highlights the need to appreciate the fleeting nature of all that’s most precious, she’s wry rather than earnest.
Francesca Henry and Arthur Hughes are touching as Emily and George, the lovers caught up in the story’s darker moments — Henry is particularly good at suggesting Emily’s precocious intelligence — and there’s jaunty support from Tom Edden as the editor of the local paper.
Though ultimately poignant, Ellen McDougall’s revival is short on energy. It’s faithful to Wilder’s stipulation that his work should be performed ‘simply, dryly and sincerely’. Yet in striving for an understated style, it slips into a rather sluggish vagueness.
Until June 8 (0333 400 3562, openairtheatre.com)
