On a cold but magical night in Almost, Maine – not quite a town, not to be found on any map – there’s something special in the air. Saturn Venus rises sharp and bright over Hedgehog Mountain and the Aurora Borealis paints the sky like, well, let’s just say Bob Ross would be in awe. Couples are falling in and out of love, sometimes in hilariously funny ways.
Almost, Maine, written by John Cariani and directed by Jo Ellen Aspinwall at Midtown Productions, is a charming series of short tales of love that all happen on one winter night. (Full disclosure: I appear in one of the scenes: Where it Went). The production features a number of veterans of the Charleston stage, as well as some newcomers. The technical aspects of the show – lights, sound, music – are handled with the high quality we’ve come to expect of Ryan Ahlert and Tony Brown.
Since many of the stories have surprising twists, I won’t spoil any of the fun. There is something for both the young and the young at heart, though.
So bundle up (the stage just looks cold), bring some tissues for tender moments, and head down to Midtown Productions on Azalea Dr in North Charleston. There are some great dining options on nearby Old Town Rd (Manny’s and Ms Rose’s to name a couple of my favorites) if you want to make a night of it. The show runs through Feb 4th and tickets can be purchased online. There are also numerous ticket discounts available, so this shouldn’t harm the budget. Hope to see you there!
Oh, we have some dress rehearsal pictures to give you just a little taste!
Steve is the founder of Straight Talk Entertainment and currently produces and writes for the audio drama Aural Traditions, recently voted Charleston City Paper’s Best Local Podcast. He’s also an Information Security professional and avid shark tooth hunter.