All of the actors lined up on the stage, taking a bow in unison after their wonderful performance. Photo by Payton Lanzara.

East Theatre made a strong start for the school year with its fall play, Almost, Maine. The play was performed at 7 p.m. on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday, Oct. 17-19.

The play featured stories of heartbreak, tragedy, loss, discovery, and most importantly, love. The performance took a unique approach with its storytelling, showcasing nine different vignettes that occurred on the same night during the northern lights. There were no “main characters”, but rather characters that fit into a larger picture, characterizing the town of Almost, Maine.

This was the first play that Mrs. Nicole Chandler has directed since she had her baby boy, and she was ready to come back with a great performance. Chandler had high expectations for both the cast and crew, and she wasn’t disappointed.

“The actors and crew put together my exact vision for the show through every piece of dialogue, gesture, set piece, and falling snow.” Mrs. Chandler said.

Milo Perez, a junior at East, shares her experience as playing “Sandrine”, the ‘girl that got away’.

“When I got up on that stage, everything came together,” Perez said. “The chemistry was natural, and I feel like I was able to play into the context of the scene.”

Many of the actors in the play also help out with other aspects of the play, showing how passionate they are to make the best possible performance for their audience.

Senior Aiden Ploger, who played “Jimmy” as a man down on his luck, is a perfect example of this.

“Seeing the Thing was my favorite [vignette],” Ploger said. “I made the painting for it so I was involved, but it’s also one of my favorite scenes to watch when I’m backstage.”

Not only did the actors work hard, but the East Crew were determined to make the best show they could. Grace Gacek, a senior member of the stage crew, describes what the people involved have to do after the performances.

“What might be surprising is how the crew takes down the entire set after the Saturday show before we leave,” Gacek said. “We are typically done around 10:30 to 11:00 p.m., and it is a group effort to make it efficient.”

All the hard work and dedication of the people on and off the stage did not go unnoticed. Kaaru Karthikeyan, a sophomore at East, as well as an audience member for Friday night’s show, thinks the performance went very well.

“I enjoyed so many aspects of the play, such as the representation, comedy, and the talented actors who worked hard to make this play the best it could be,” Karthikeyan said.

Many people often feel too afraid to act in front of a large audience because of stage fright, the fear of being judged, or overall personal conflict. While those feelings are valid, they didn’t stop the actors from expressing themselves.

“Go for it. Take the risk. Take the leap. I feel like the buffer there is just people letting their fears control their chase,” Perez said. “Your worst critic is yourself, and just don’t let yourself get in the way of what you can truly achieve.”

Mrs. Chandler, with the experience that she has, also has some advice for aspiring actors.

“I always say make bold choices,” Chandler said. “For me, that means to be big and confident in what you choose to do, whether it’s in an audition or rehearsal. I, along with audiences, want to be engaged when watching theatre, and that doesn’t come with being small and safe, it comes with being big and bold. So, just go for it!”

The winter show, Sense and Sensibility, will be taking auditions on Nov. 4 at 3 pm in the PAC (Performing Arts Center). Further information can be found in the East Theatre Google Classroom, which can be accessed by going to room B140 or following their Instagram, @oe_theatre.

Written by Seniors Robbe Witting, Payton Lanzara, and Thomas Coffin. Edited by staff writers for Oswego East’s online news magazine The Howl.