Almost, Maine

There’s something magical about the Northern Lights, and they certainly have breathed a little magic into the Castle Hill Players' latest production, Almost, Maine, written by John Cariani.

Here, love is the common theme, presented in 9 tiny pieces (or vignettes) stitched into an unexpectedly poignant night at the theatre. The romantic, dramatic comedy explores various facets of love through interconnected vignettes in the fictional Almost, a small town in Maine, USA. 

Full of the ups and downs of relationships, new love, old love, unrequited love and stuffed with the most literal metaphors possible, like giant bags of returned love, a broken heart in a bag or falling in love. It could turn cheesy. But it doesn’t; Director Meredith Jacobs has found a balance, and each story she tells is thoughtful and full of heart. Lots of hearts. Her keen understanding of the nuances of love and human relationships shone through each vignette.

At its core, Almost, Maine is a poignant and heartfelt exploration of love and human connection. Through its vignettes, the play delves into the complexities of relationships, capturing both the joy and pain of opening one's heart to another. Each scene is a snapshot of raw emotion and vulnerability, inviting the audience to reflect on their experiences with love and loss and taking that chance. 

This isn’t a play I knew of, and it is a delight to find a gem you didn’t expect. Let’s start at the beginning. It looks like boy meets girl… until they profess love (so they DO know each other) and circle the planet to find each other. You’ll understand when you see it, but it sets the scene for some of the slightly (let’s call them) unusual things to come.

The cast features Holky Bramble, Toby Rowe, Jessie Peake, Chris Scarpellino, Kate Candy and Nick Roberts. Each performer is superb. It is a cast that works together and trusts each other and forms a heart-warming ensemble—eliciting both laughter and tears from the audience. From the quirky and endearing characters to the poignant and reflective moments, the cast brought the town of Almost, Maine to life on stage.

Each story occurs here in Almost, at almost 9 PM on a snowy Friday night, under the same skies. We know this because it is mentioned a lot, but there is continuity in this production that is meticulously applied across each scene.

Although the stories have different characters, the soundscape is often full of blustery wind, and Annette Snars has costumed the characters in very North American snow gear that is cohesive and keeps us in the same place simultaneously. 

A great deal of the atmosphere created is due to the Lighting Design of James Winters. Using lighting to simulate the Northern Lights enhanced the enchanting atmosphere.

The minimalist set design allowed the focus to remain on the characters and their interactions. Each vignette is given their own setting, designed by Trevor Chaise. Props and set pieces are mixed and moved on and off between each vignette, while flats with silhouettes etched into them slide in and out between those that are fixed and snow-covered. It differs from what we usually see at Castle Hill, allowing Jacobs and her team to play further with the various vignettes.

It might be a cold and windy night in Castle Hill, but this is heart-warming and charming, worth braving the cold. The talented cast has crafted a heartfelt and authentic portrayal of love in all its forms. 

Nicole Smith

Photographer: Chris Lundie