Theater Reviews

Feb 13, 2010 - Reno Little Thater presents a subtle, poignant valentine with John Cariani's whimsical "Almost, Maine"

By Jack Neal

“Almost, Maine” is a precarious place to live, both geographically and emotionally. Playwright John Cariani weaves nine brief but interrelated stories of such charm one can almost – that word “almost” again – overlook how minimal they are or how repetitious they can be.

Director Kristen Davis Coelho takes rather haunting advantage of the blue-white light of a northern New England night to cast warmth on a desperately cold place. The play’s other cold place is the damaged heart, eventually made literal with wonderful comic effect in the second-act scene called “Getting it Back.”

Essential to how the play’s many sketches’ affect, are the way they play sadness with sympathy and find comedy in confusion. There’s an “Our Town” quality about the play with the actors playing may roles and fitting into many families. Actors Brian Ault, Darcy Lernardson, Erin M. Slimak and Tommy Vereen bring lovely sensitivity to their acting that makes this Reno Little Theater presentation especially enticing.

The set design by Kirtsen Davis-Coelho and Bo Davis-Coelho is simple. Snow covered benches and cutouts of evergreens provides nothing too permanent for a make believe place, and somehow Doug A Mishler’s lighting designs conveys the colorful beauty of a northern Maine winter with just a trace of warmth. Also to be enjoyed is Wolfgang Price’s sound design and most especially his original score. Impressive.

Some very nice things are happening at Reno Little Theater during its 75th season. Then there’s Cariani’s play – a gift of diversion, when diversion may be the best jubilee gift of all. Happy Diamond Jubilee RLT.

Reno Little Theater’s “Almost, Maine” can be seen at the Hug High School Little Theater, at Sutro Street and North McCarran Boulevard, Reno, Nevada, February 5, 6, 12, 13, 19, 20 (2010) at 7:30 p.m., February 7 (a partial performance viewed furnished information for the above critical review), 14, 21 at 2.p.m. For information call 775-329-0661.