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DRAMA & DANCE
production relished the opportunity to relocate the action of the play by turning the EAT into their own neighbourhood. Images of the College in 1938 were referenced within a small lecture delivered with humour by Niccolò Robertson, who dressed as Father Christmas to play into the festive spirit. Set in the technical rehearsal of the show, emphasised by the brilliantly simple epic design echoing the Lars von Trier film Dogville , this production bombastically embraced its full theatricality, exposing the bare bones of the Edward Alleyn Theatre and challenging each audience member to imagine their own Grover’s Corners. Carol Morris layered the ingenious settings with a beautiful lighting design that managed to navigate the complicated line between immersing us in the action, whilst also exposing the fun of all the technical elements in the theatre (including festoons of coloured lights to represent the stars and two follow spots manually operated by Beau McChesney and Honey Christophers).
Rugged resilience and cheerful collaboration between three year groups across two schools were the keynotes of what turned out to be a joyful, celebratory and moving scratch staging of the iconic Thornton Wilder play Our Town , towards the end of the Michaelmas term. The company received a message from Tappen Wilder, nephew of and literary executor for the playwright, who was delighted to hear that Our Town was coming to Dulwich College. He wrote: ‘Because of its location and early history, the play has long been associated with small town life in North America, but I can assure you that when my uncle wrote Our Town , inspired (in part!) by Greek, Chinese, Baroque, and Weimar German theatre – with key scenes written in Switzerland, for heaven’s sake – he had the whole world in mind. “It’s everyone’s hometown,” he often told his countrymen, citing letters received from all over the globe. And because it is, in fact, a worldwide play, I get especially excited when I hear of “off-shore” productions about a small New Hampshire town called Grover’s Corners.’
Written in 1936, Our Town is the most performed play in America, but it is less well known over here. The energy in the Edward Alleyn Theatre was palpable on the night of the performance, and not for the usual reasons. Trying to put on a play while working around all the commitments of school life can be hard enough in normal times, but under the shadow of Covid, the stakes were heightened. With the school under ‘amber measures’, our rehearsals were put on hold, before the decision was made to create this production as a ‘Play in Two Days’. The company would meet on the Monday, and we would stage and rehearse the show within this incredibly small window, performing it for the first time on Tuesday evening in the final week of the Michaelmas term. On the morning of Day One, we received the news that our lead actor, who was to play the part of George, had tested positive over the weekend, so it fell upon the shoulders of Jonathan Millis to step valiantly forward. He hadn’t even seen the script, but threw himself into exploring the role with great heart, enthusiasm and courage – all key facets of George’s character. The company gathered round with fantastic energy, helping Jonny learn his blocking in double-quick time. In the roles of the three Stage Managers, Gilbert Edwards, Erin Cox and Harry Sugden masterfully guided us through the small town of Grover’s Corners (relocated to South East London), as the architects of the action. The students in our
The story follows the developing relationship between George and Emily over three acts – first as young school children, then graduating students and finally as adults. Jonny Millis and Esme Somerside Gregory endearingly captured all the charm and confusion of their developing romance. It was hard not to fall in love with this young couple as they navigated life choices that pushed and pulled them together and apart. At the climax of the play, we learn that Emily has passed away, and we watch the Stage Managers give Emily a chance to revisit her twelfth birthday. In reliving this special childhood moment, she realises that the understated joy made possible by the small acts of generosity of loved ones is what makes life unbearable to leave behind. Before she passes into the afterlife, the audience lit up their phone torches to create a starlit tapestry around the auditorium, and we guided her safely, sensitively on her journey. After a strange few years, it was a gentle and moving reminder of the unique beauty available to us every day. Much like the company that created this production with energy, excitement and authenticity, we were all brought together as a community of Grover’s Corners in the EAT. It was an excellent night of entertainment, and a mighty achievement by the entire ensemble of Our Town . They perfectly captured the spirit that Thornton Wilder intended, and made all of us there in the theatre proud to be part of their town.
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