Barley Sheaf Players to stage ‘Almost, Maine’ through May 5

DOWNINGTOWN » The Barley Sheaf Players continue their landmark 50th anniversary season – in which they are reviving shows that they have produced over the past five decades – with their spring performance of “Almost, Maine” which opens this Friday, April 20. Co-directed by longtime Barley Sheaf members Cindy Schneider and Rhonda Bastarache, the play follows the residents of the mythical town of Almost, Maine on a cold, wintry night, as they fall in and out of love in unexpected, and sometimes hilarious, ways.

“Almost, Maine” is actually comprised of nine individual scenes, each focused on a different set of characters. The central character is really the town of Almost. Even though each scene is separate from the next and the individual characters never recur, they are all connected by the magical town in which they reside.

“Almost, Maine” was originally produced by the Barley Sheaf Players in 2008, shortly after its 2006 Off-Broadway run. Though its original run in New York was short, the play was featured in Smith and Kraus’ collection, New Playwrights: Best Plays of 2006. Another interesting fact is that the author, John Cariani, is also an actor (you may have seen him in the original Broadway cast of “Something Rotten!” as Nigel Bottom), giving him extra insight into how the script can be translated from the written page to the stage.

“Almost, Maine” has a story for everyone, it runs Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays through May 5. Tickets are $17 for adults, and $13 for students (under 18) and seniors. Tickets can be reserved online at www.barleysheaf.org or by calling the box office at 610-363-7075.