Last month’s performances of the bittersweet comedy “Almost, Maine” were moving and well-executed.

Co-directed by English teacher Kristen Mickie and academic support aide

Missy Weil, the play features a series of couples in northern Maine who are in various stages of love. Their romantic shenanigans take place on a winter night under the northern lights in the fictional town of Almost.  

While the show takes place in rural Maine, the set is also reminiscent of “up north” Wisconsin, a familiar place for some in the audience. Realistic touches such as beer bottles and porch lights helped to immerse the audience in the world of Almost. The vivid northern lights were a fun visual addition that highlighted the “magical moments” interspersed throughout the play.

Several of the scenes had the potential to be uncomfortable for the cast and audience due to implied intimacy, but the actors handled it with professionalism. 

“Her Heart,” featuring East (senior Sam Neill) and Glory (senior Josephine Witte), was notable for its comedic delivery that had us literally laughing out loud. Folks were chuckling and chortling whenever East spit out a hilarious response to Glory, complete with lively gestures and funny inflections. Glory’s character juxtaposes East’s with her off-beat personality, which created an entertaining dynamic.

On the other hand, “Where it Went,” featuring Phil (senior Liam Abshire) and Marci (junior Caroline Kelley), showed the rawness of a strained relationship. Abshire and Kelley gave an emotional performance that touched the audience’s hearts. While the show is largely billed as a compilation of meet-cutes, its more serious scenes impart the reality that love doesn’t always work out, and that’s all right. 

While we were apprehensive at first, the performance blew us away with realistic acting and set design. The cast and crew were certainly deserving of the standing ovations they received.