Theater performed the play, ‘Almost, Maine’ on November 13 and 14 in the high school auditorium. Open to the community, the play was a romantic comedy that featured a series of duet scenes.

“It all takes place in a town called ‘Almost’ located in Maine,” high school theater director Melissa Toomer said. “We see different couples and how their relationships evolve as the play progresses.”

The play required students to expand in their skills as actors.

“This play was a challenge for my actors because it does involve some stage kisses,” Toomer said. “The play stretches actors from what they are used to doing and helps prepare them for more serious roles.”

One performer shared how the play required more than just memorizing the lines.

“This show has taken a lot of preparation,” junior Reign Bach said. “We’ve spent most of the school year so far trying to become our characters and build a relationship with our scene partners.”

Performing with another actor provided a unique experience for the program.

“It’s super different because it’s basically these little moments that are all happening at the same time, and it’s really different having two people and an intense scene,” freshman Berret Buvinghausen said. “You really have to share a connection for something to happen.”

The play presented the audience with a wide variety of characters to experience.

“My favorite part of performing is stepping into my character’s shoes and viewing life from her perspective,” Bach said. “It’s fun to experience another life in every show.”

For some of the students, ‘Almost, Maine’ was the their first performance.

“The most difficult part was probably preparing to walk out on stage and give it your all,” Buvinghausen said. “You have to calm your nerves and mentally run over the lines so many times to where you just have it down.”

Although the play was free, the theater also sold desserts and accepted donations.

“We are using the donations from our food and the donations at the door for costumes for our upcoming musical, ‘Little Shop of Horrors,’ that opens January 21-23,” Toomer said. “We are also using it for the one-act play budget, so we are growing the program to help us fill in the needs for later shows.”

Many hope the play prepares the students for their competition season.

“I haven’t chosen our one-act play yet,” Toomer said, “but the roles may require stage romance or very serious scenes where they have to maintain eye contact, so it’s just a way to grow the actors and prepare them for what’s coming up.”

Every member plays an important role in putting on the performance.

“This [production] has our tech-theater kids design and build the sets, the lights, and the sounds because it’s all done by the students,” Toomer said. “The actors have to create these characters, so everyone plays an important part.”

The cast shared how important having an audience is to the program.

“I think it’s important to let the community see us because it brings awareness to Argyle’s theater club,” Buvinghausen said. “We will be putting on more shows later this year, so I think it’s important that we can share what we’ve been working so hard on with the whole community of Argyle.”