Part 1
“Our Town” is a quiet story. “It attempts to find value for the smallest events in our daily life.” So, wrote author, Thornton N. Wilder.
Although set in a 2,500 populated New Hampshire town, it could be “Anytown”, USA. Why now Acoma, Bluewater, Grants, or Milan?
Do these quotes, from the films’ characters, sound like they could have come from this area: 1. “In our town, we like to know facts about everybody.”
2. “We’re an ordinary town. Little better behaved than most. Probably a lot duller.”
3. George: “I guess you like school.” Emily: “I don’t mind it. It passes time.” 4. “Some people aren’t made foe the small-town life.” 5. C. Warren: “How does the weather look to you?” H. Newsome: “… maybe it will clear up for good.” 6. “Ladies…cooked three meals a day and no summer vacations. They brought up two children, washed, cleaned the house, and never a nervous breakdown.” 7. “The young marrieds will have a lot of troubles. But, that’s none of our business. Everybody has a right to their own troubles.”
8. M. Gibbs: “Do you think it’s going to rain again?” H. Newsome: “It rained so heavy, maybe it’ll clear up.”
After reading these quotes, can you recall similar remarks heard in your town? Maybe this story’s population is derived from audience members being able to identify the characters with their community citizens.