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Monday, February 15, 2021
Returning To 'Our Town': Why The Play Still Hits Home After 80 Years
NPR: NPR's Scott Simon speaks to writer Howard Sherman about his new book, "Another Day's Begun: Thornton Wilder's Our Town in the 21st Century," which interviews participants from an array of productions.
I’ve participated in multiple productions of Our Town and it never really struck a chord with me. I think the things the men in the interview cherish about the play are actually the same things that make me dislike it. They argue that in its simplicity, Our Town can adopt a multitude of meanings and each performance of each production can mean something different. But to me, Our Town doesn't mean anything. In my opinion, it takes itself far too seriously and then really only amounts to, “We’re all just specks of dust, aren't we.” Maybe in its time it was revolutionary, but now it's not really offering anything new. It’s long, not much happens, and its “moral” is so lazy and tired I couldn't help but roll my eyes the first time I read it. Maybe as I grow old I will have a revelation and come to acknowledge the profound beauty of Our Town. I am totally open to having my opinion changed. But until then I will keep wondering what about it makes people dedicate years of their life to it like the man in the interview.
1 comment:
I’ve participated in multiple productions of Our Town and it never really struck a chord with me. I think the things the men in the interview cherish about the play are actually the same things that make me dislike it. They argue that in its simplicity, Our Town can adopt a multitude of meanings and each performance of each production can mean something different. But to me, Our Town doesn't mean anything. In my opinion, it takes itself far too seriously and then really only amounts to, “We’re all just specks of dust, aren't we.” Maybe in its time it was revolutionary, but now it's not really offering anything new. It’s long, not much happens, and its “moral” is so lazy and tired I couldn't help but roll my eyes the first time I read it. Maybe as I grow old I will have a revelation and come to acknowledge the profound beauty of Our Town. I am totally open to having my opinion changed. But until then I will keep wondering what about it makes people dedicate years of their life to it like the man in the interview.
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