Almost, Maine
at The New School of Northern Virginia

Reviewed on March 16, 2019

Lily Perez
Woodrow Wilson High School
Submitted for publication to Cappies News

You won't find Almost, Maine on a map, but you'll surely find it in your heart. Through a series of vignettes imbued with magical realism, the New School constructed a heartwarming portrait of love at its best and its worst. John Cariani's play premiered in 2004, and has been widely-produced - this iteration of the almost-town and its colorful characters married comedic and dramatic aspects of an emotion essential to the fundamental human experience, coming together to prove that love is always worthwhile.

The New School's intimate black-box space, backlit by cool green and blue lighting evoking the Northern Lights, served as a versatile backdrop for the diverse settings of the play's condensed tales of falling in and out of love. Nuanced lighting changes allowed the actors to remain the focus of the scenes, but became prominent in moments which were thus purposely punctuated. The actors were also extremely commendable in maintaining their focus with audience members seated just inches away, never exiting the world which they had constructed with their scene partners.

Though every scene introduced a fresh set of circumstances, each served as a microcosmic view of a relationship which manifested love in different, amusingly absurdist ways. From the sweet, to the bittersweet, to the plain bitter love stories which "Almost Maine" contains, the cast shone in dual capacities. Some, such as Annie Kraemer (as Villain, a cheerful waitress) and Gillian Merrill (the long-suffering and marriage-ready Gayle), left a lasting impression through a single appearance; others showed versaitility in creating personas with distinct arcs in a variety of scenes. Jamie Testa and Matthew Swiacki played a range of uniquely endearing male characters - the former bookended the production as Pete, and both showed dexterity in evoking the lighthearted tone of scenes in the first act, and later the heavier aspects of the second act.

Two actors set themselves apart, anchoring a significant portion of the snapshots of life in the upper reaches of Maine. Ethan Ocasio consistently flexed his comedic muscles, whether through his nervous mannerisms as the lovestruck East, overt frustration as Lendall, or earnest confessions as Dave. Sofie Strompf seamlessly metamorphosed from Marci, a chagrined wife, to the assertive Rhonda in "Seeing the Thing," in which she played opposite Ocasio. In that euphoric final scene, the chemistry between Ocasio and Strompf served as an incomparable finale to the production which highlighted the comedic abilities of both actors, as well as their commitment to physical choices.

This cast populated the mythical place with very real people, proving the ubiquity of love in all its forms. The actors aptly handled the fast-talking nature of Almost, Maine's residents, which includes dense dialogue with natural pacing, stuttering, and overlapping. Excellent use of silence strengthened scene work throughout, adding thematic depth and proving the actors' capabilities of communicating without uttering a single word.

Love was in the air of the New School's production of "Almost, Maine," evoking the ebbs and flows of relationships with wit and ardor. In the wintry world which the cast and crew created, this production could still warm hearts.

Joe Malone
Oakton High School
Submitted for publication to Cappies News 2

It's uncharted territory. Township Thirteen, Range Seven. You won't find it on a map. There are no road signs to help you get there. But nonetheless, it's a marvelous little town. One filled with comradery, support, and most importantly, love. And as the sun set on the quaint, charming town known to locals as Almost, Maine, the players of The New School proved to the audience just how imperative such qualities are for a place like this.

Originally written by John Cariani, Almost, Maine initially debuted at the Portland Stage Company in 2004 in Portland, Maine. The production was greeted with open arms as it broke box office records and was immediately showered with overwhelming praise. In the year 2006, the show opened Off-Broadway at the Daryl Roth Theatre in January and closed the very next month. Almost, Maine was featured in Smith and Kraus' New Playwrights: Best Plays of 2006 and has since become the most produced play in North American high schools, surpassing Shakespeare's "A Midsummer Night's Dream". The production follows the stories of nine couples, new and old, that take place on one Friday evening in the rural, never-organized town known as Almost, Maine. As the night progresses, the townsfolk dive into a deep understanding regarding the twists and turns of first love, love lost, and what it means to love in the first place.

In this vignette-style campfire romantic comedy, it is not uncommon to see actors portray multiple characters in the span of a single production, and nobody did a better job of doing so than Ethan Ocasio (East/Lendall/Dave) who inhabited each character with ease as he jumped between the characterization of the curious, if not impulsive, repairman, the malleable yet benevolent husband-to-be, and the vulnerable mill worker trying to use his artwork to display his feelings to his longtime friend. Ocasio's whimsical mannerisms and boy-like innocence made him an undeniable force to be reckoned with from the moment he appeared on stage. In addition to his flawless character work, Ocasio displayed irrefutable chemistry with his scene partners, the most notable being Sofie Strompf (Marci/Rhonda), who found the perfect balance between her portrayal of the miserable wife contemplating what had become of her husband, and the comedic tough-as-nails arm wrestling reigning champion whose intimidation and masculine energy made her skeptical of the notion of romantic entanglement.

The production's lighting proved to be nothing if not spectacular, and in a cozy environment much like the one at The New School, the effects that were manifested created an ambiance that instilled both warmth and wonder in the audience. Despite being in a black box theatre, The New school Theatre Tech Team assembled and hung a Cyc, on which they were able to present the awe-inspiring colors of the Aurora Borealis as well as the passionate sunrise that dawned upon two new lovers in their newly discovered romance, all of which was courtesy of the lighting rig fastened to several sets of scaffolding. In addition to the superlative lighting of the production, the set design provided a simplistic approach that perfectly encapsulated the essence of the rural northeast. Consisting of several bushes and trees, a window pane, and a bench, the set of The New School's production was able to fully immerse the audience into the community depicted onstage whilst remaining subtle in appearance.

The New School's production of Almost, Maine will remind all who attend of the thrill of romance, the agony of heartbreak, and everything in between. This heartwarming romantic comedy proves to be capable of melting the frigid conditions of Maine.

Kristen Waagner
McLean High School
Submitted for publication to Patch.com

You would never know you're in "Almost, Maine" until the northern lights appear above your head. It's one-hundred and sixty-three miles (and a hell of a cab ride) from Bangor, and you won't find it on any map. But in "Almost, Maine," beautifully produced by The New School of Northern Virginia, you will find all kinds of love amidst the winter weather, as people connect under the starry Maine sky.

First produced in 2004, John Cariani's "Almost, Maine" draws inspiration from his own upbringing in Northern Maine. Heavily dosed with magical realism, the charming tragicomedy has become a favorite of high school theatres across the country for its unique and whimsical approach to love and life. The play is a snapshot of a night in a small Maine town, captured in a series of vignettes that follow couples in their romantic, hilarious, and, at times, bittersweet pursuits. Despite all the snow and ice, audiences leave the town of Almost with their hearts just a little bit warmer than when they arrived.

A genuine sense of whimsy permeated each vignette of "Almost, Maine," but perhaps the greatest contribution to this lightheartedness was made by Ethan Ocasio. Ocasio juggled three diverse roles, impressing equally as the nervous, yet sincere repairman East, the reserved Lendell, and, in his most enjoyable performance, as the open and earnest Dave. While admitting his love to the no-nonsense Rhonda, played by Sofie Strompf with perfectly exaggerated physicality, Ocasio was both charismatic and committed to his characters. The duo of Ocasio and Strompf drew nonstop laughs in a memorable scene that involved stripping down seemingly endless layers of winter clothes in an effort to progress their relationship.

Commendable performances were also delivered by the rest of the cast, many of whom also doubled roles. Jamie Testa as Jimmy, particularly, displayed a high level of maturity for a middle school student, convincingly portraying a down-on-his-luck man with an unfortunately misspelled tattoo. Matthew Swiacki and Emily Ocasio also impressed in "That Hurts," contrasting his straightforwardness with her subtext to deftly handle themes of abuse in relationships.

Minimalistic set pieces and effective lighting choices augmented the visual metaphor and symbolism latent within John Cariani's script. From frost on a window pane to a car's headlights fading as it gains distance, no detail was left unattended. Props also provided moments of pure wonder; disbelieving silence accompanied a snow boot miraculously falling from the sky, while laughter and groans followed the revelation of a tiny red bag of love.'

Whether you're ice-skating, having a drink at the Moose Paddy, or even just relaxing in your driveway with your best buddy, love is sure to find you in The New School's "Almost, Maine."

Sarah Bourgeois
Westfield High School
Submitted for publication to Connection

In the outskirts of Maine rests a quaint gaggle of folks who call themselves Almost, because they never quite organized enough to become a full-fledged town, they're simply Almost. The New School of Northern Virginia encompasses the charm of small-town life through cheesy romantic tropes and disheartening loss in their humbling yet comical rendition of Almost, Maine.

John Cariani tells the story of Almost, Maine through the eyes of nine pairs of lovers who reside in the fictional almost-town. In each scene, a new couple emerges to share a chapter of their stories. Whether it's having a few drinks with an ex at her bachelorette party or finding the hidden picture in a dotted painting, the residents of Almost experience the bittersweet and the heartwarming sides of love as they find their way with one another.

Cariani's Almost, Maine first opened with the Portland Stage Company in 2004 in Portland, Maine. It moved to Off-Broadway in 2006, running for 30 days at the Daryl Roth Theater. The short-lived performances earned themselves generous critical acclaim, as mentioned among New Playwrights: Best Plays of 2006 and with recognition as an outstanding regional production in 2004.

Dave and Rhonda, two buds fresh off the slopes, were portrayed by Ethan Ocasio and Sofie Strompf. Strompf embodied the tough attitude of Rhonda with a tomboyish ease as she referred to her potential boyfriend as "bud." Ocasio's sincerity is showcased as he gifts a painting to Strompf and explains that it's one of those dotted works that you have to take a step back for to see the bigger picture. He demonstrates by comically darting behind a chair and shielding his eyes, opening them quickly to "trick it" into letting her see the big red heart he painted. Ocasio adds a wholesome level of genuinity to his character as he convinces his "bud" to fall for him in a playful way.

Sitting idly in the laundry room of a hotel was Steve, portrayed by Matthew Swiacki, as an ironing board abruptly smashed into his head at the (accidental) hands of Emily Ocasio as Marvalyn. Swiacki used comedic timing to his advantage as he paused before clearly delivering hilarious quips throughout the scene. His calm and straightforward character provided a defined contrast to that of Ocasio, who was frantic in her movements and vocality. She was rushed and flustered as she hurriedly folded her laundry, desperate to get back to her boyfriend after kissing the stranger she hit with an ironing board on a whim. The sheer disarray Ocasio displayed unveiled layers of her character the audience would've been deprived of otherwise.

Shimmering purples and greens danced across the cyclorama curtain to create the dazzling array of colors present in the northern lights. The New School Theatre Tech Team meticulously positioned each light, with lighting operator Isabel Chevez working diligently to illuminate each scene. Silhouettes of shrubbery lined the back of the stage, with a dusting of powdery snow at the base of each bush. A white hanging window was painted to look as if the glass had frost in its corners to immerse each scene in the wintery atmosphere of Maine.

The highs and lows of romantic encounters thrive under the glistening stars of the peaceful night sky. In The New School of Northern Virginia's captivating production of Almost, Maine, the folks of the almost-town say goodnight with a bittersweet tinge as stories of love and loss come to a close.

Addison Picardat
West Springfield High School
Submitted for publication to Fairfax County Times

In the not-quite-a-town of Almost, Maine, there live a small population of people whose stories affect everyone's lives in every way; small stories of love and loss, all dusted with snow, carried deeper meanings and were filled with hearts bigger than the township itself. The New School of Northern Virginia brought this township into their own theatre, and they warmed the hearts of the audience with their production of Almost, Maine.

Almost, Maine was written by John Cariani, a star both on stage and on screen. Cariani has received a nomination for his role of Motel in Fiddler on the Roof in 2004 and is well known for his appearances in Law and Order. His playwriting debut was in 2002, when he wrote Almost, Maine at the Cape Cod Theater Project. The show then made its world premiere at the Portland Stage Company. Almost, Maine is still the most popular of Cariani's published works and is the one of the most produced shows in the past 15 years with over 400 U.S. productions and another 100 internationally.

As the show is made of a handful of short stories, no actor played the same character twice, which has the potential to be confusing. However, Ethan Ocasio individualized his characters (East, Lendell, and Dave) through the choices he made as an actor, which prevented any possible disorientation. Ocasio killed the audience with his body language and delivery of lines, making him the only person in the room with a straight face. His focus on his scene partners was as sharp as his timing, making it easy for the other person to play off of him and develop strong chemistry in such a small amount of time. His dedication to the individual stories benefited him in his performance as he grew into these hilariously sweet characters that won the hearts of the audience.

In the second chunk of stories, the audience was introduced to Sofie Strompf, who played both an unhappily married woman (Marci) and an award-winning snowmobile rider (Rhonda) in a realistic but still hilarious way. Strompf's emotions in the story "Where it Went" seemed genuine and truly as if she was lonely and dissatisfied with her husband. As she began to exit, leaving her poor husband behind, the silence from her was deafening, giving the story a more powerful ending. Strompf also showed us her comedic side as she was paired with the previously mentioned Ocasio, where she still got a little vulnerable but didn't miss a single beat of comedy that her character provided.

In a space as small as a Black Box, it can be difficult to create the vision for a show like Almost, Maine. The New School's student techs, however, created the perfect home-sweet-home aura with a few simple tricks. They had several bushes and trees on the outer edges of the stage that were all snow covered, and a single, frosted window hung over stage left; it doesn't sound like much, but the set both established the scene and didn't distract from it, perfectly lending itself to the whole show. As for lighting, instead of trying to create a replica of the Northern Lights, the team utilized colors to reflect the scene's tone, which enhanced the magical realism the show relies on.

The New School's production of Almost, Maine filled the audience with love and wonder, that will not be forgotten anytime soon.