by Thornton Wilder

Important Terms 1.Frame Story –An “outer” story used so that the main story can be told –In Our Town, the Stage Manager provides the frame story: we are all in a 1930s theatre to learn about Grover’s Corners, NH. –The audience is a member of the cast.

Important Terms 2.Fourth Wall a.The imaginary wall on a stage that keeps the characters on stage from realizing that they are being watched by the audience Fourth wall

Important Terms 3.Breaking the fourth wall a.Characters on stage interact with the audience because they aware that they are being watched b.The Stage Manager breaks the fourth wall

Important Terms 4.Stage Directions a.Stage directions are used to tell actors where on the stage to stand b.Given from the actors perspective

Representational Sets Minimal sets Tables, chairs, and ladders represent houses No props – characters pantomime Lighting and sound provide important information about mood

Our Town Action of the play takes place Set in Grover’s Corners, NH

Grover’s Corners, NH Fictional town Represents life in all small towns Set at the turn of the 20 th century (before WWI) Family, home, and church are the centers of the community. An attempt to recapture some of the innocence lost during the “Great War” (WWI)

Characters Emily Webb George Gibbs Stage Manager Dr. and Mrs. Gibbs Mr. and Mrs. Webb

Stage Manager Omniscient God-like character Narrator Sometimes plays minor roles in the story but is not really a character Interrupts characters, controls their actions, describes objects and events for the audience

Emily Webb Ordinary girl in a small town at the turn of the century. Bright, charming, somewhat naïve Marries George Dies in childbirth Attempts to rejoin the world of the living Allowed one more day

George Gibbs All-American boy Baseball player Wants to go to State Agricultural School to be a farmer Marries Emily Becomes a widowed father

George & Emily’s Marriage Thornton Wilder uses George & Emily’s relationship to explore ideas about love and marriage in general.

Mr. and Mrs. Webb Parents of Emily Mr. Webb is the editor of the local newspaper Mrs. Webb is a mother of two children who die young Neighbors to the Gibbs

Dr. and Mrs. Gibbs Parents of George Dr. Gibbs is the town doctor Mrs. Gibbs dies of pneumonia Mrs. Gibbs is Emily’s guide to the afterlife Neighbors to the Webbs

A Play in Three Acts Act I – The Daily Life Act II – Love and Marriage Act III - Death

Act I - The Daily Life Children go to school Milkman delivers the milk Babies are born Mothers attend church choir

Act II - Love and Marriage George and Emily graduate from high school. They fall in love. Marriage unites two families.

Act III- Death Emily dies giving birth to her second child. She joins family and friends in the cemetery. Given the chance to re-live one day. Realizes we never appreciate what we have until it’s gone.