BY LEAH RETHY

In print | Published February 14, 2008

Celebrating Valentine’s Day with your significant other on a weekday at Swarthmore may be nearly impossible, but the theater scene has just made it easier. The play, “Almost, Maine,” which cast member Isa St. Clair ‘11 describes as an “entertaining romp,” premieres today. Do not despair, however, if you are not able to come on Valentine’s Day, as “Almost, Maine” will be performed on Friday and Saturday as well.

There are seven cast members in this production (Natalie Bamdad ’11, Sara Lipshutz ’11, Isa St. Clair, Eric Holzhauer ’10, Christopher Klaniecki ’10, James Robinson ’10 and Maria Dalini ’09) and 19 characters in the play. Each actor plays more than one part, in some cases, up to four.

The two first time co-directors, Katherine Bates ‘08 and Nora Nussbaum ’08, said that they had anticipated having a smaller cast, but because some of the actors who auditioned were great for certain parts, the number of cast members grew to seven. This is the first time that Bates has directed a production since she was in high school, but Nussbaum co-directed last year’s production of “Arcadia” (in which Bates acted). Both commented that they have really enjoyed working with each other and that having two directors contributed greatly to the play.

“Almost, Maine” consists of a series of vignettes, all centered on some aspect of love or romance. St. Clair commented that the play is, to a large degree, about “getting past almostness” — the town in which the play is set is in fact called “Almost” because the town members have never organized themselves enough to actually form a town. Many of the characters are unable to fully experience love but nonetheless, “Almost, Maine” is a comedy.

As Nussbaum said, even though “parts are really sad … We should remember that it is a comedy because ‘sadness is the funniest thing in the world,’” quoting playwright John Cariani. “Almost, Maine” explores many aspects of romance, including broken hearts, insecure men and even a character that Klaniecki describes as “the awkward Swattie.” Nussbaum also said that the play contains “magical realism” and St. Clair commented that the audience should look out for interesting instances of “the literalization of a number of metaphors,” including a woman who carries around a bag with a broken heart in it.

“Almost, Maine” is sponsored by the Drama Board. Like all Drama Board projects, Almost Maine: is entirely a student production. It differs, though, from most other Drama Board plays in that its production has spanned two semesters, which has allowed it to open on Valentine’s Day.

Everyone should come out this week and support these hard-working actors. If you do, Klaniecki promises that “this play will make you feel happy, and when all is said and done, that’s really what it’s all about.”

“Almost Maine” will be showing in Upper Tarble on Thursday Feb. 14 at 7:00 p.m., on Friday Feb. 15 at 7:00 p.m. and on Saturday Feb. 16 at 2:00 p.m.

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