by Thornton Wilder

Important Terms1. 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 Terms2. 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 Terms3. 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 Terms4. 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 1901-1913•Set in Grover’s Corners, NH

Grover’s Corners, NH•Fictional town•Represents life in all small towns•Set at the turn of the 20th 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)

CharactersEmily 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 MarriageThornton 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 ActsAct I – The Daily Life

Act II – Love and MarriageAct 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.