Noah Stivers and Lauren Larson in “Almost, Maine" at the Playcrafters Barn Theatre -- November 10 through 19.
Friday, November 10, through Saturday, December 2
Playcrafters Barn Theatre, 4950 35th Avenue, Moline IL
Lauded by the New York Daily News as a work that "packs wit, earns its laughs, and, like love, surprises you," the romantic-comedy vignettes at the heart of playwright John Cariani's ceaselessly popular Almost, Maine enjoy a November 10 through December 2 staging at Moline's Playcrafters Barn Theatre, with the New York Post adding, "the show offers a sweetness and decency that’s become rare at the theatre."
A woman carries her heart, broken into 19 pieces, in a small paper bag. A man shrinks to half his former size, after losing hope in love. A couple keep the love they have given each other in large red bags, or compress the mass into the size of a diamond. Such playful and surreal experiences are commonplace in the world of Cariani’s Almost, Maine, where on one deeply cold and magical midwinter night, the citizens of Almost – not organized enough for a town, too populated for a wilderness – experience the life-altering power of the human heart. Relationships end, begin, or change beyond recognition, as strangers become friends, friends become lovers, and lovers turn into strangers. 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, and each with its own touch of sorcery.
Directing Almost, Maine for Playcrafters is Kathy Graham, who helmed last autumn's A.R. Gurney comedy Sylvia for the venue and has appeared in such Barn Theatre productions as A Murder Is Announced and You Can't Take It with You, as well as One-Off Theatrical Productions' one-woman show Apples in Winter. With Madelyn Dorta serving as the comedy's assistant director and stage manager, additional members of the creative team include: set and sound designer Skip Greer; set builders Kendall and Kathie Burnett; lighting designer Jacque Cohoon; booth operators Gabe Thompson and Jesslyn Cohen; and producer Jane Watson. Graham's cast, meanwhile, features a dozen area talents enacting the township of Almost, Maine: Storm Marie Baca; Ashley Gomez; Bailey Hager; Ashley Hoskins; Anna Kronenberger; Thayne Lamb; Lauren Larson; Nathan Lundburg; Tabitha Oles; Bill Peiffer; Joe Sager; and Noah Stivers.
Almost, Maine will be presented in Moline's Barn Theatre from November 10 through 19, with performances on Fridays and Saturdays at 7:30 p.m. and Sundays at 3 p.m. Due to popular dermand, additional 7:30 p.m. performances have been added for Frikday, December 1, and Saturday, December 2. Admission is $13-15, and more information and tickets are available by calling (309)762-0330 and visiting Playcrafters.com.
