ECC Arts Center presents the play, Our Town, Nov. 7 to Nov. 16, directed by Susan Robinson. Twenty five of ECC’s students will be performing in the Thornton Wilder play at the SecondSpace Theater.
“Do any human beings ever realize life while they live it? – every, every minute?” That is a question posed by Emily Webb, one of the main characters in the story. Numerous themes are explored in the early 20th century play such as life’s temporary nature, savoring the moment, and making the most of today, and three students of ECC’s freshman class are making the most of their initial days at ECC with purpose and enthusiasm.
After performing opening weekend in Fox Valley Theater Company’s production of Puffs, Freshman Joshua Baskin auditioned that Monday for the Our Town production. He not only plays two characters, Constable Warren, and a baseball player, but he also understudies the role of Dr. Gibbs; the character portrayed by none other than his high school friend, Justin Gonzalez, also a freshman this year.
Gonzalez and Baskin both attended Hampshire High School, having been involved in the theater departments there. Senior year saw Gonzalez performing the role of Patrick in SpongeBob, the Musical, while Baskin wrote and directed his own one-act play.
And now that they are both tackling roles for the first time in college, they look forward to the opportunity to hone their craft.
“I’m hoping to learn different acting techniques to make my acting believable,” says Gonzalez. “And I think especially with this show, I’m going to be able to learn a lot.”
While Baskin looks forward to doing more theater at a college level. “I want to learn more about how stuff works and how to not only improve myself as an actor, but to gain a better understanding of the space I’ll be working in.”
The space Baskin and his fellow actors are working in lends itself well to the timeless themes of the story. Historically, the play has been presented to audiences in a simple, barren landscape of sparse props and minimal set décor.
And director Susan Robinson is staying true to that landscape. “The point is to focus on what’s important in life. Theater is often at its most powerful when it is done simply.”
For freshman Lila Dzikowicz, acting has been something she’s enjoyed since childhood. Cast in two roles, one as Si Crowell and another as A Woman Among the Dead, Dzikowicz describes Wilder’s language as rich and the characters as being very realistic.
“When you are talking to people it makes you think of things that are in the play. Like, ‘Oh, this is just like it is in Our Town.’ It feels like real life but in a very deep way.”
Justin Gonzalez agrees.
“The whole thing throughout from Act 1 to Act 3 is just real. And I’ve never seen or done a show like that, so I’m excited to be able to be a part of something like that.”
And in circling back to that question posed by Emily Webb earlier, “Do any human beings ever realize life while they live it? – every, every minute?” The character of the Stage Manager attempts to answer the question. “No,” he replies, “the saints and poets, maybe- they do some.”
But perhaps also student actors like Lila Dzikowicz and company are realizing life while they are living it, especially as they prepare to take the stage in a few weeks.
“I feel like it’s going to be a part of me after this because I love this play so much that it’ll make it even more special.”
