In a place so small that it is “almost” a town, there are stories of love, loss, disappointment, and hope. This is Almost, Maine.

~Review and Photos by Dana Nöllsch~

About the Story

Almost, Maine is a unique series of nine short stories or vignettes, each connected by a common geographical location and the shared experiences of the people who live there. Three of these vignettes tie the play together with a touching moment at the end.

Illuminated by the northern lights, there is no town in this northern part of Maine, but there is a community that is connected by love, desire, and loss. Each character lives in a state of “almost,” not quite where they want to be but not quite where they were.

The nine short stories tell the tales of this community at this moment in time. From the woman about to get married being confronted by her past to the story of two friends ready to take the leap and change their lives together forever, the stories are diverse and poignant.

With so many characters and stories and only a handful of actors Almost, Maine is challenging to produce, act, and direct. Union Productions and the talented actors have done a great job giving their audience Almost, Maine.

Written in 2004, Almost, Maine has become a staple in high school theater programs.

Check out the photos for a glimpse of Almost, Maine.

What About the Performances

Six actors play nineteen roles in nine stories, but the talented cast brings all this together in a symphony of emotions.

Each of these actors plays many roles. Here are just a few examples.

Karly Tilman plays a woman ready to embrace her wedding but finds her past waiting at the next table. Tilman is excellent at showing that her character has no desire to take a step back and will waste no time with what was.

Abraham Vasquez plays a man who is lost in a loveless marriage and has no idea how to make a graceful exit. Vasquez is wonderful in bringing that emotion forward as a lost and hopeless man.

Rachel Douglass is superb as a woman searching for closure. Reaching out for the kindness she has heard about, she finds exactly what she needs.

Matthew Highground plays a man filled with so much grief that he cannot feel anything anymore. Highground brings this character to life with intense emotions waiting to surface.

Annikki Larsson is outstanding as a woman who has given so much and now needs something for herself, only to discover that what she needs is already there.

Wendy Feign is fantastic as a woman who has friendship in her life only to discover that there is also love. Feign plays this role with the intensity of a woman resisting the inevitable.

The Bottom Line

Almost Maine is a touching and surreal story about a group of people in transition. Each of the individual stories is engaging, and together, they make for quite a delightful evening. Almost Maine is an excellent choice for a date night.