"Our Town" Weekend - Part 2

Sorry for the delay! As promised, here are the remaining photos (and some observations) from the play. My camera was being selectively cooperative last weekend. Many of these were taken by Brittany Robertson (sister to Rachel Robertson who played Emily). Special thanks to her for sharing her photos with me! = )

Before the play and at each intermission, this Barbershop Quartet (The Uncalled Four) performed...they were wonderful!! The audience LOVED them. They're all members of the college staff.

Mrs. Webb dispensing motherly advice to her children, Emily and Wally at the breakfast table before they head off to school.

The first hint at the relationship that is to follow...George Gibbs asks Emily if she could help him with his homework. = )

Mr. Webb comes home late from work to find Emily stargazing (no doubt thinking of George!) This father-daughter relationship was so endearing.

George's parents, Doc & Mrs. Gibbs. Believing he works too hard, she is constantly encouraging him to rest. Here, she has coaxed (dragged) him outside to relax and enjoy the fragrance of her beautiful flower garden.

A number of years have gone by Emily and George are now in high school. She believes his baseball talent and other accomplishments have gone to his head because he seems conceited and hard to talk to, and she tells him so. A very nervous George invites her to the local soda shop to try and smooth things over...(take note of the shopkeeper! ; ) One of the most charming scenes of the play.

Through the course of this afternoon at the soda shop, they begin to share how much they've always loved one another and what that means for their future. One of my favorite lines is when George says to Emily with such innocence "I guess this is a pretty important talk we've been having." They decide they will be married after they finish school.

When the time comes for Emily & George to marry, they both have a major case of pre-wedding jitters. Emily's Dad steps in to assure them both it will be alright. He gives his daughter's hand and tells George to take care of his girl.


The wedding (recognize the Pastor?) The girl to Emily's right is George's sister, Rebecca (you saw her in the previous post getting her hair styled).

Several guests at the wedding...the women from town, a professor from the local college, and other friends and family. The costumes were amazing! Would you just take a look at those hats! They were incredible.



This is a heart-wrenching scene. Nine years have passed since George and Emily's wedding. In a brush with death as she's delivering their second child, she sees how her family would be impacted if she were to die. She longs to comfort those who are grieving her loss, particularly George who is devastated. Your heart just aches as you watch this scene. Emily realizes all she has taken for granted, and that she and most everyone around her has lived busily distracted by day-to-day routines, not fully appreciating the incredible gift of life. You can't help but reflect on your own life as you hear her thoughts. We were crying, people all around us in the audience were crying. (I can still feel that sadness as I share this.) You hear Emily say "I want to live!" and the stage goes dark for a moment or two. When the lights come back up, you are back at the home of the Webbs. The whole family is gathered, apparently waiting when you hear an infant's cry. A few moments later, Doc Gibbs emerges from the room holding the new baby. He tells everyone they nearly lost Emily, but she is going to be alright. God in his grace has allowed her to live, undoubtedly with new hope and great joy and appreciation for all she has. As the family celebrates, you're still crying, but now the tears are joyful ones. The Stage Manager (Brennan) appears to share his final thoughts and he closes the play by bidding everyone a Good Night. What a beautiful hope-filled ending! This play carries so many messages...these were just a few. I've been pondering on them all week and appreciating this passage in a new way...

…For what is your life? It is even a vapor that appears
for a little time and then vanishes away. (James 4:14)

And this one, has become my prayer....
Teach us to number our days aright,
that we may gain a heart of wisdom.
(Psalm 90:12)

May it be so.