Our Town

I've seen them all, and agree with the Thornton Wilder Society that this is the best version of the play, most authentic to what Wilder had in mind, and with a magnificent cast.

Penelope Ann Miller is without a doubt the best Emily recorded .. and that is against some pretty heavy competition. Eric Stolz is a little shaky in the beginning; he doesn't play the juvenile George as well as the adolescent George, but it is not an easy part to play. Spalding Gray has his moments as the Stage Manager, but the part should really be played a little more sympathetically -- this is our guide through the play and the town and we should feel an affinity for him. He is too distant and stiff for the part. The underplaying, for a change, of Simon Stimson is a relief and an excellent choice; instead of angry and bitter, he is sad and hopeless -- one feels a bit more sympathetic toward him. The biggest miscalculation in the film is the portrayal of Dr. Gibbs. Wilder did not intend for Dr. Gibbs to be portrayed as small-minded and controlling, and stated as much. Just because Mrs. Gibbs would like to see more of the world does not mean she is a trapped, manipulated housewife. But playing Dr. Gibbs as a man ready to flare up into a temper changes the whole outlook of the play. If people were that cruel and small-minded, why would Emily want to return? (I realize we are talking about George's parents, not Emily's, but it is all part of the overall portrayal of the town.) I am looking for a perfect rendition of the play, and this is not it. (Neither, by the way, is the much-celebrated Paul Newman version, which inexplicably drops entire speeches and comments that are quite important to the play's theme.)

I'm a huge Spalding Gray fan, and he talked about how all the critics panned his performance ("Spalding Gray came from outer space, and Gregory Mosher left him there!" "Spalding Gray's deportment was a blight on the town!")

After seeing it, I unfortunately agree. Gray is a stiff actor, especially in this role, and unless he's telling stories, he seems unnatural.

Stage Manager is a difficult role. Hal Holbrook nailed it, but even Paul Newman and Peter Fonda struggled with it.

The rest of the cast is fine. One of the interesting tidbits from Monster in a Box is that Wally was played by Shane Culkin, brother of Macauley. You know, the one who projectile vomited in one performance.

Nice town... know what I mean?

Every once in a while you see a drama that reminds you that most theater and film is very superficial. This 1989 version of Our Town has all the resonance of the 1940 film with an extra dimension of emotion. Spaulding Gray as the stage manager, Eric Stoltz, Penelope Ann Miller are all perfect from minute one. The film was more juvenile and here they are sexual. And the other characters are not so cardboard small town. Their repressions are very real. It took till Jan. 1991 for WNET to broadcast it and it is very expensive to purchase but very much unforgettable and worth it.

As an American literature teacher, I always loved the 1977 public television version of Our Town. Hal Holbrook is just as good as the Stage Manager as he was as Mark Twain, although there are a few places where he sounds like his Mark Twain. Nonetheless, this 1989 version, now offered as a tandem with the earlier version, is absolutely wonderful, just like Emily's moonlight. It is closer to Wilder in that there is just the called-for props. But the emotional edge that Spalding Gray brings to it and the acting across the board is perfect. I know this play backwards and forwards, but I agree with the previous reviewer that the soda fountain scene is sheer emotion and sure to bring some tears to the eye. Sadly, a lot of modern American literature books are no longer including the play in order to be more culturally diverse (with great plays like A Raisin in the Sun), but we need to keep this play alive and use these excellent videos (both offer an interesting comparison for students to consider).