Almost, Maine at the Park

Almost, Maine, written by John Cariani and presented by Go People, is a romance, or rather a selection of romances, in a small town called Maine. They say the cold winter air can be bitter and painful, but not in Maine. It’s as if mistletoe is growing above everyone’s heads, or Cupid is whipping around in the winter wind and shooting in the direction of couples everywhere. Almost, Maine is a series of short scenes telling the stories of how eight couples come to fall into, rekindle or dismiss love. 

Love is often spoken about as a magical thing, and Almost, Maine pours magic into this performance. The events that occur are sometimes unrealistic but, paired with the eerie and classical soundtrack, they make love seem all the more mystical. Other scenes really capture the surprise of love – it’s unexpected and unfamiliar but it’s rarely unwanted, and that is exactly what we get in this play. We experience unfamiliar feelings, but we can’t help but want more. Laughter spreads throughout the small, black box theatre, the play offering a mirror for something each and every one of us has experienced, whether it be a first romance, bumping into an ex at your hen do – awkward – or swapping stories about who’s had the worst break-ups. We’ve all been there and, of course, it’s always interesting to watch somebody else go through it.

The script is comic; there are double entendres and awkward moments, which have the audience either cringing or laughing. It is a timeless play, its basis a topic that has been ongoing since the beginning of time, and one that will continue on. The actors are well-rehearsed; even with an obvious mistake or two in their midst they manage to pull together a good show. The characters can be related to by anyone at any point in time, and that explains why the show has been so popular. Almost, Maine has been produced in over 2000 theatres across the United States and, thanks to Go People productions, Maine’s love has found its way to London.

Chaneen Salako

Almost, Maine is on at Park Theatre until 17^th January 2015, for further information or to book visit here.