Director’s Notes
So, let’s put on a play. In a pandemic. With Covid-19 restrictions. Masks. Social distancing. Covid tests every week. No one can come see the play. Oh, and by the way, there is no set building in this environment. This is how my conversation started with Neil Nash, Buckley’s Drama/Dance Chair, as he asked me to take over the director’s reins in December from the legendary Stephen Rollman.
Hmmmm…
I needed a miracle. And, like the shooting star that we all wish on every once in a while, I found Almost, Maine. Each scene in this play climaxes with some sort of “magical moment.” And, the magical moments in each scene happen at exactly the same time - as the clock strikes nine. On one deeply cold and magical night, while the Northern Lights hover in the sky, the citizens of Almost, Maine -- not organized enough for a town, but too populated for a wilderness -- experience the life-altering power of the human heart. This play is about one moment in time - what can happen in a heartbeat.
A perfect play to produce in this pandemic year of isolation, zoom learning and trying to grapple with the reality of our lives coming to a halt. In this year of masks and social distancing, with little in the way of human interaction while we waited for a vaccine to get our country going, our schools open, and our faith in each other restored - the Buckley School would produce a play about the most important human values - love, redemption and faith in each other.
So, we have a play, but how do we…produce it for our community? The students can’t audition or rehearse together. The theatre must be empty - no audience. And, the performers must be socially distant. Not only that, there are no people to build sets or hang lights and we need to create a small town in Northern Maine. And, in a play about love there is bound to be some kissing, hugging and other human interaction. Oh, and in a year when the kids have burned out on zoom, would they even audition? We needed a miracle. Or, at least a magical moment.
There are only two actors in each scene (except for one). So, easy to rehearse on Zoom. We can’t have an audience? So, we shoot it like a film. I’ve done that before. The play takes place in a freezing winter in Maine? So, we need a scenic and lighting miracle to turn the CCA into a frozen environment conducive to shooting a movie in three days. Three days? Did I not mention the three-day shooting schedule? Ironically, this is where the pandemic helped us a bit, as Broadway Associate Lighting Designer Zachary Heffner (Buckley ’13), and Universal Studios cinematographer and editor Matty Milani, had some open time in their schedule. Along with Buckley veteran creative types Wendy Wells (costume, sets, props, snow floor, etc.) and Chad Bamford (sound design) - our huge student staff (not in numbers but in heart) of two, Olivia de Castro and Miles Goldsmith - and an incredibly talented group of young actors willing to take on this challenge - we were able to create the town and characters of Almost, Maine - and stream it to you this evening.
A Miracle? A bit of magic? Some faith in each other? You decide. Please enjoy the Buckley School production of Almost, Maine.
It happens in a heartbeat.
Michael Spound,
Director
