Latest Douglas College play shows different types of love
By Cheryl Minns, Arts Editor
As evening falls on the fictional town of Almost, Maine, characters of various ages discover different kinds of love in very literal ways. Taking place on a versatile, changeable set in Douglas College’s Studio Theatre, Almost, Maine will feature six second-year theatre students playing multiple roles in six scenes that deal with love and tangible metaphors.
“All the way through the play, and indeed in each scene, there’s something tangible about love, about a metaphor of love that we actually get to take apart and put back together. It’s written as if it’s completely ordinary,” director Deborah Neville said.
Some examples of these metaphors include hearts that can literally break and be put back together, as well as the act of falling in love causing actual clumsiness.
“I think it’s really relatable because it shows all different phases of love and different kinds of love: love that you don’t want, love that you’re fighting really hard for, love that you can’t get and you can’t receive back,” said Rachel Fournier, who plays several characters, including Ginette, Sandrine, and Gayle. “You go through one or many of those in your life, and it’s something that I think everyone can relate to.”
In the play’s prologue, teenagers Ginette and Pete declare their love to one another, only to realise that such a declaration can have repercussions on such young love.
“It’s so young and innocent, and it’s different than all the other kinds of love in the play, which are a little bit more experienced, and the characters are in relationships and stuff like that,” Fournier said.
“It’s one of those plays that makes you think and makes you reflect upon your own life,” said Sean Brown, who plays several characters including Jimmy and Randy.
The “almost” in Almost, Maine refers to a possibility or a chance that something might happen, according to Neville.
“We never get to see the full journey of love. We arrive at a moment where something alters,” she said.
During the play, the Northern Lights light up the stage, adding a colourful visual to the characters’ emotions.
“The Northern Lights are almost like a character that stays with us and plays through the piece and highlights these kind of moments that we’re touching on,” Neville said. “Like the Northern Lights, each moment has its own colour and its own specific beauty. Then it’s gone again and we don’t know what will come next.”
Almost, Maine will be playing November 5–13 at the Studio Theatre at the Douglas College New Westminster campus. On November 9 and 10, the show will include a talkback session.
Tickets are available online at TicketsNW.com for $20 each for general admission, or $10 each for students and matinee shows.
