by Thornton Wilder

A PowerPoint by Jennifer Bufkin

Characters
Emily
George Stage Manager

Dr. and Mrs. Gibbs

Mr. and Mrs. Webb

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Emily
Ordinary girl in a small town at the turn of the century. Bright, charming, somewhat nave Marries George Dies in childbirth Allowed one more day
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George
All-American boy
Baseball player Wants to be a farmer Marries Emily Becomes a widowed father
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Dr. and Mrs. Gibbs

Parents of George Dr. Gibbs is the town doctor Mrs. Gibbs dies of pneumonia Mrs. Gibbs is Emily guide to the afterlife

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Mr. and Mrs. Webb

Parents of Emily Mr. Webb is the editor of the local newspaper Mrs. Webb mother of two children who die young

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Stage Manager
Omniscient God-like character Narrator Plays roles within story without really being a part of the story

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A Play in Three Acts

Act I The Daily Life Act II Love and Marriage Act III - Death

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Act I - The Daily Life

Children go to school Milkman delivers the milk Babies are born Mothers attend church choir

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Act II - Love and Marriage

George and Emily graduate from high school. They fall in love. Marriage unites two families.

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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 its gone.
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Representational Sets
Minimal sets Tables, chairs, and ladders to represent houses No props Lighting and sound important

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Setting
Grovers Corners, New Hampshire Representational Settings

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Grovers Corners, NH

Fictional town Represent life in all small towns Set at the turn of the 20th century Family, home, and church are the centers of the community.
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The Play

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Thornton Wilder wrote Our Town in opposition to the realistic plays being produced at his time. He wanted something that was a throwback to the old style of theatre where the audience was forced to use their imagination and become a part of the play.