Simple Presentation

Training College played this touching mirror of our life as it was originally presented in New York. An empty stage and the imagination of the audience were the scenery. But, beyond that, when you produce "Our Town" you must have the audience playing with you—they must be, in themselves, your Doctor Gibbs and Mrs. Webb and George. And that barrier hurdled, you must make sure that your players themselves live their parts. I can think of no play more dependent on this sympathy of both audience and cast than "Our Town." That Training College did it. and did it well, must remain one of its proudest achievements.

Perhaps the best individual performances were those of Pat Cummins as Mrs. Webb and Pat Clarke as Emily Webb. In most amateur shows, you know the people playing, and know that they are only playing. These two went beyond that. For sincerity on the stage, I have never seen a better example than Emily's return to her home after her death her agonised cry "I can't go on." And if ever an audience was moved with a performance, here was one.

Best scene, I think, was that of the funeral in Act III. The most elaborate and expensive sets I've ever suffered with were quite overshadowed by the superb balance of that undecorated stage, on one side the dead, on the other, the mourning townsfolk, turned away, sheltering under their black umbrellas.

The best played scene was the soda-fountain love affair of Emily and George. This could have been made ludicrous, but it was handled most delicately and sincerely by Pat Clarke and David Hempleman. I think the point about all the situations in "Our Town" is that they could have happened to you. There was nothiug grotesque about this immature love scene. George, indeed, was very well played by David Hempleman, and that "great gangling thing" was you and me not so long ago.