Explore Love and Relationships in the Remote Town of Almost, Maine
Temperatures may be rising outside, but inside the Jeuck Auditorium, students in the play Almost, Maine, are transporting audience members to a cold, moonless night in the middle of winter, as the Northern Lights illuminate the sky.
The conditions set the stage for a magical evening, where an eclectic group of couples experience the life-altering power of the human heart.
Almost, Maine is the third production staged this year by Saint Viator’s theater department, which is a first. The show opened Thursday night and performances continue at 7 p.m. Friday and Saturday, and at 2 p.m. Sunday.
Director Megan Gray says the play, written by John Cariani and first debuted in 2004, has consistently ranked among the top 10 most-performed high school plays due to its sweet and silly characters.
“Relationships end, begin, or change beyond recognition, as strangers become friends, friends become lovers, and lovers turn into strangers,” Ms. Gray explains. “Propelled by the mystical energy of the aurora borealis and populated with characters who are humorous, plain-spoken, thoughtful, and sincere, Almost, Maine is a series of loosely connected tales about love, each with a compelling couple at its center, each with its own touch of sorcery.”
Junior Nixon Kollias plays Gayle, Lendall's longtime girlfriend. In the show, their relationship leads to a confrontation.
“I am so excited to play the role of Gayle. I auditioned with only this part in mind because of how cute hers and Lendall’s engagement story is,” Nixon says. “This couple is so in love with each other, but have not communicated this very well, and it takes a huge argument to discover they belong together.”
Freshman Caroline Capra plays another main character in the show, Ginette, whose relationship with Pete is central to the play’s exploration of love and relationships.
“I think their story really says a lot about love,” Caroline says. “Ginette walking all the way around the world just to prove her love to Pete is just such a powerful gesture.”
Cast members say they are enjoying the chance to step outside of their world for a bit and explore the power of love and loss in this remote town. Nixon even describes it as a “must-see show.”
“This play has magical and silly elements, but also the love stories are very realistic,” Caroline adds. “Audiences can relate to these characters and the situations they are in regarding human connections and interactions.”
Saint Viator High School
Located in Arlington Heights, IL, Saint Viator High School is a private, co-ed, Catholic school for grades 9-12. Students benefit from a challenging academic program, fine and performing arts, competitive athletics, and a wide selection of extracurricular activities.
