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Cappies reivew: Sir Wilfrid Laurier Secondary School presents Almost, Maine

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Show #22: Almost, Maine

Where: Sir Wilfrid Laurier Secondary School

Director: Sonya Schrum


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Anya Kylas, Critic
Merivale High School

What defines a location as a town? Sure, it has to be bigger than a village, smaller than a city, and have a large enough population, but sometimes a little bit of love and tenderness can overrule all of that. Sir Wilfrid Laurier Secondary School’s production of Almost, Maine was passionate and had some big city flair for a story about such a small place.

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This play, written by John Cariani, is a collection of sweet stories of love, some being comedic and ironic, and others cold and bittersweet. Within the 2 acts, there is a very large variety of impactful moments to be performed, some of which are challenging because of the amount of chemistry required between the lovers of every scene. SWL Theatre performed these moments very successfully. They presented the impactful story of a town that isn’t even on the map in a heartfelt way.

The most memorable aspect of this charming play was the sense of intimacy the cast created. It truly seemed as if the whole performance was a normal Friday night in a standard spot. The nine different love stories were each captivating because of the impeccable progression of emotion. The actors and tech harmonized to create an ever-changing atmosphere that would change from bright to melancholic in an instant.

The genuine production was extremely effective in creating this intimacy because of the astounding amount of detail. For many of the actors, such as Robert Babaev and Neil McClintock, comedic timing, physicality and confidence were notable. They garnered a great response from the audience. The quirkiness and exaggerated motions they had in their scenes was uplifting.

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Jimmy played by Robert Babaev, during Sir Wilfrid Laurier Secondary School’s Cappies production of the Almost, Maine, held on May 2, 2019 at Sir Wilfrid Laurier Secondary School in Ottawa.
Jimmy played by Robert Babaev, during Sir Wilfrid Laurier Secondary School’s Cappies production of the Almost, Maine, held on May 2, 2019 at Sir Wilfrid Laurier Secondary School in Ottawa. Photo by Holly Dueck /-

Both Owen Brouse and Gavin Furlong played the part of the clueless guy in a charismatic way. Their boyish charm and clear vocal tone enriched their performances as well as the rest of the play. Other performers like Zaynab Karimjee acted with realism that was virtually professional. She held her body and manipulated her voice to emulate a broken hearted woman with a very high degree of effectiveness. Karimjee never broke character, even sometimes mumbling under her breath about her lover’s wrongdoings.

The props, done by Zaynab Karimjee, Neil McClintock, Kelsie Smyth and Jameel Ferzli, were cohesive with the rest of the production; they had the same classic feel with a touch of surrealism. The cotton snowball was as big as the world but perfectly small enough to fit into a hand, and the paper bag holding fragments of a heart crinkled in a heart wrenching way. Other pieces such as green beer bottles and the patterned ironing board created an even more convincing small town atmosphere.

At first glance, the ‘town’ of Almost, Maine has no significance, as it can’t even be found on the map. Though the town itself may be cold and snowy as expected in the North, even catching a small glimpse of the warm people who inhabit it is enough to give this ‘town’ a distinctive edge. Sir Wilfrid Laurier Secondary School proved that love and community are far more important than being an organized town.

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Will Prieur, Lead Critic
St. Mother Teresa High School

Some say love is the most complicated emotion one will ever experience. Others say it will bring the greatest years of your life. Many say love is the most painful emotion one will ever know. Love was portrayed as a combination of all of these things by the students behind Sir Wilfrid Laurier Secondary School’s heartfelt production of Almost, Maine.

Written by John Cariani, Almost, Maine premiered in 2004 as a collection of excerpts surrounding one topic: love. These scenes range from newly blooming relationships to closure of lost love, and include the painful breakups and makeups. The 2006 off-Broadway premiere opened to critical praise and earned a cult status among amateur theatre programs.

From beginning to end, the students of Sir Wilfrid Laurier Secondary School bestowed a heart-warming, genuine, and unfeigned production, propelled into excellence by superbly immersive sets, engaging performances, as well as hair and makeup designs that were true to rustic Maine.

One of the strongest supports to the emotional impact of the show was the intimacy of the set and stage. This play was presented using theatre in the round, where the audience encircles the stage, and it brought them much closer to the action and scenes at hand, only centimeters away from the performance. Set pieces, such as a dinner table or lounge chair, were placed sparsely around this circle. The use of this was very effective as it created a raw companionship between the audience and actors, giving dividends of emotional payoff.

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Glory played by Zoey Rowberry (L) and East played by Gavin Furlong (R), during Sir Wilfrid Laurier Secondary School’s Cappies production of the Almost, Maine, held on May 2, 2019 at Sir Wilfrid Laurier Secondary School in Ottawa.
Glory played by Zoey Rowberry (L) and East played by Gavin Furlong (R), during Sir Wilfrid Laurier Secondary School’s Cappies production of the Almost, Maine, held on May 2, 2019 at Sir Wilfrid Laurier Secondary School in Ottawa. Photo by Sarah Woods /-

The Sir Wilfrid actors showed they were up to the challenge of theatre in the round in their superb acting under this heightened pressure, which the actors took in stride. A few standouts in the cast included Gavin Furlong as East and Zaynab Karimjee as Gayle. In his turn as East, Furlong brought the very distinctive appearance of a dedicated charmer. Furlong accomplished this largely in an impressively genuine scene in which he exuded worry, yet showed a hopefully determined demeanour. This was expressed by perfected timing of facial expressions as well as a façade of confident swagger displayed through his suave body movement. Karimjee portrayed the neglected Gayle, full of spite, anger, confusion, and disappointment. Karimjee used a wide array of vocal tone shifts between these distinctive emotional states and ultimately delivered a dynamic character. She also utilized her eclectic stage presence and constant nervous pacing to amplify the impact of her characterization.

These characters were also brought to life by the strong makeup and hair designs of students Emmett Duby, Jessica Goyette, Kelsie Smyth, and Emily Bordeleau. The hair and makeup fit the setting of each character’s scene to a degree of perfection. Whether it was the undeniably realistic rosy cheeks, presented in each of the scenes taking place in the cold of a winter night, or the rugged aesthetic of the townspeople, which remained consistent, this helped deliver a truly special performance.

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The question of what love really is and what it makes us feel may never truly be answered, but this production effectively did its best to give an answer. The cast and crew of Sir Wilfrid Laurier Secondary School’s production of Almost, Maine have earned a feeling of pride from a job well done.


Nicoletta Owens, Critic
Merivale High School

In a little town in the north of Maine, love is all these folks need to keep warm… almost. Sir Wilfrid Laurier Secondary School performed a hilarious and heartfelt interpretation of Almost, Maine.

A series of nine short love stories, loosely interwoven and laced with lost opportunity and love at first sight, are set in the almost town of Almost, Maine. Though the town is fictitious, the relationships formed between the characters are not. Written by John Cariani, this play premiered in 2004 and has been prevalent ever since.

Brimming with unyielding chemistry between the characters in their respective scenes, the actors relied on more than just their few moments of dialogue to develop their characters; between scenes, they continued to present their personal narratives. The tech categories helped the understanding of the scenario, and immersed the space into an intimate town. Inventive lighting use, meticulously painted sets, and crucial sound effects all made the play feel more real.

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The first full scene opened with Zoey Rowberry as Glory, a hiker hoping to see the Northern Lights. Rowberry performed with zealous attitude and magnetic liveliness. She had numerous monologues, and in all of them, her words were clearly articulated, even with her exasperated tone. Her pacing was perfect, and she managed to express her character just as well in her physicality. Through apologies, dramatic outbursts, and tragic reveals, Rowberry had the opportunity to aptly show her range of emotions. Gavin Furlong played her counterpart, East, with a quiet and subdued demeanour, which created a creative contrast against Rowberry’s animated presentation. Furlong’s purposefully awkward mannerisms clearly displayed the character and his sincere curiosity, making his humorous additions all the more entertaining.

Robert Babaev perfectly embodied Jimmy, a clueless man full of boisterous small-town pride. With his booming voice, he enunciated each word clearly, allowing his dramatic pauses and tone changes to shine through. Babaev brought the character to life with the comedic timing of his lines and captivating physical acting; long swigs from beer bottles and sweeping hand motions made his presence stand out. He was able to change the energy of his character into a state of despondency when a crucial detail was revealed, proving to be a stark contrast against the rest of his performance.

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Randy played by Jordan Mason, during Sir Wilfrid Laurier Secondary School’s Cappies production of the Almost, Maine, held on May 2, 2019 at Sir Wilfrid Laurier Secondary School in Ottawa.
Randy played by Jordan Mason, during Sir Wilfrid Laurier Secondary School’s Cappies production of the Almost, Maine, held on May 2, 2019 at Sir Wilfrid Laurier Secondary School in Ottawa. Photo by Holly Dueck /jpg

Though simple in design, the costumes were significant for the presentation and understanding of each character. Most characters wore large winter coats to portray the crisp weather in the north of Maine, and beneath that, they wore clothing that represented their personality and situation. When characters were interrupted in the middle of the night, they were wearing pyjamas, and one character came from the city, so she wore a more sophisticated and professional outfit. When the characters milled about between scenes, a group of girls wore pink feather boas to suggest their participation in a bachelorette party that was alluded to. The props were invaluable to character development, since each scene centred around a particular prop. One character carried around a crumpled paper bag, in which pieces of her broken heart knocked together. In a later scene, there was a large bag filled with red material that effectively represented “all the love” one person gave to another over the course of their relationship. The small details incorporated in each of these crucial props identified its importance at just a glance.

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Sir Wilfrid Laurier Secondary School’s interpretation of Almost, Maine was a refreshingly funny take on the meaning of love. With every dedicated student involved, this exceptional production was entertaining and heartbreaking.


Natalie Beshara, Critic
St. Mother Teresa High School

Ever wonder what it’s like to live in a small town? Well now you don’t have to, with Sir Wilfrid Laurier Secondary School’s production of Almost, Maine you feel as if you’re a part of the community.

Written by John Cariani and first premiered in 2004, Almost, Maine touches on the ups and downs of love and loss. Exploring these themes through nine comical scenes, each compelling story surrounds a new unique couple, all who live in the cold, fictional somewhat-town of Almost, Maine.

Zaynab Karimjee completely and fully embraced her role as Gayle, the girlfriend who was tired of waiting for the next step after 11 years. Karimjee was able to tug at heartstrings as her voice heartbreakingly broke in sadness, with her amazing capability to consistently express a genuine range of emotions. Her energetic movements added an entertaining yet captivating element to her performance, never failing to hold the attention of all. Another notable character was the frantic hiker Glory, played by Zoey Rowberry. With her emotive facial expressions and perfect enunciation, Rowberry captured Glory’s distraught soul throughout her quick, quirky dialogue.

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Marci played by Tiffany La Rose, during Sir Wilfrid Laurier Secondary School’s Cappies production of the Almost, Maine, held on May 2, 2019 at Sir Wilfrid Laurier Secondary School in Ottawa.
Marci played by Tiffany La Rose, during Sir Wilfrid Laurier Secondary School’s Cappies production of the Almost, Maine, held on May 2, 2019 at Sir Wilfrid Laurier Secondary School in Ottawa. Photo by Holly Dueck /-

Neil McClintock perfectly portrayed the light-hearted Steve, giving a sense of childlike innocence through his choice of diction and expression. Though he couldn’t feel pain, this didn’t stop McClintock from executing his perfectly timed comedic lines. McClintock was also interactive with the audience, as he stayed away from any pretty girls who sat near him, after reading it on his “What to be Afraid of” list.

The set team at Sir Wilfrid Laurier took a different approach to sets, as they strayed away from the basic stage set up and created an extraordinary experience instead. They placed the audience surrounding the round set they created, giving a more intimate feeling with every scene. Another distinctive feature was the importance of the props throughout the play. The prop team was able to connect each scene to an individual prop. This not only made the props more personal and symbolic to the characters, but also helped add to the comedic effect and realism of the overall play. The lighting crew did a marvellous job being able to consistently keep the actors and stage well lit. They were able to also add creative effects using lighting to enhance an emotion from the scene, such as the Iris Out spotlight effect and the beautifully done Northern Lights effect.

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Sir Wilfrid Laurier Secondary School created the warm and welcoming atmosphere of a small town, as they touched on the individual outcomes that love can bring. The beautifully done set, detailed props, stunning lighting and heart-warming characters all made the production of Almost, Maine a memorable one.


Emma Perreault, Critic
St. Mother Teresa High School

They say everybody knows everybody, and someone’s business is everyone’s business in a small town. This was exactly the case in Sir Wilfrid Laurier High School’s production of the lovable play Almost, Maine.

Written by John Cariani in 2004, this play explores nine stories of love and loss throughout the mythical town of Almost, Maine. Nine different couples interact and explore their feelings around the town, while having subtle encounters amongst each other. The roster includes a young couple learning to love, a newcomer who wants to remember her lost love, and a heartbroken young man learning to move on, among others. This play displays the love felt for others in so many unique ways; one can’t help but feel moved when watching each character learn and grow.

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Playing the slightly confused, heartbroken Gayle, Zaynab Karimjee perfectly embodied the hurt character. Each word was said with a tearful quality that captured the emotion felt by her character as she yelled at her boyfriend. As her boyfriend Lendall, Emmett Duby managed to showcase their many talents with the strumming of a three-string guitar and demonstrating the guilt and worry Lendall felt. The two together showed off their fantastic range and warmed everyone’s hearts.

Jordan Mason and Andrew Parsche, playing Randy and Chad respectively, played the characters with a passionate, emotional touch that was heart-warming and real. They played off of each other’s lines so well that it seemed like a real conversation between two friends.

Randy played by Jordan Mason (L) and Chad played by Andrew Parsche (R), during Sir Wilfrid Laurier Secondary School’s Cappies production of the Almost, Maine, held on May 2, 2019 at Sir Wilfrid Laurier Secondary School in Ottawa.
Randy played by Jordan Mason (L) and Chad played by Andrew Parsche (R), during Sir Wilfrid Laurier Secondary School’s Cappies production of the Almost, Maine, held on May 2, 2019 at Sir Wilfrid Laurier Secondary School in Ottawa. Photo by Sarah Woods /-

Sets, done by Mac Smith, Owen Brouse, Kelsie Smyth and Maya Bisnath, were executed perfectly and fit seamlessly into each scene. The addition of numerous cotton balls to simulate snow perfectly transported everything back to the winter season. Props, designed by Zaynab Karimjee, Neil McClintock, Kelsie Smyth, and Jameel Ferzli, were beautifully decorated and created. Each prop was instrumental in its scene and was designed as such. They stood out and not one was out of place.

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Sir Wilfrid Laurier High School’s production of Almost, Maine showed us that love can persevere no matter what the situation, with warmed hearts along the way.

Ginnette played by Jessica Goyette (L) and Pete played by Owen Brouse (R), during Sir Wilfrid Laurier Secondary School’s Cappies production of the Almost, Maine, held on May 2, 2019 at Sir Wilfrid Laurier Secondary School in Ottawa.
Ginnette played by Jessica Goyette (L) and Pete played by Owen Brouse (R), during Sir Wilfrid Laurier Secondary School’s Cappies production of the Almost, Maine, held on May 2, 2019 at Sir Wilfrid Laurier Secondary School in Ottawa. Photo by Holly Dueck /-
Rhonda played by Meghan Jay (L) and Dave played by Jameel Ferzli (R), during Sir Wilfrid Laurier Secondary School’s Cappies production of the Almost, Maine, held on May 2, 2019 at Sir Wilfrid Laurier Secondary School in Ottawa.
Rhonda played by Meghan Jay (L) and Dave played by Jameel Ferzli (R), during Sir Wilfrid Laurier Secondary School’s Cappies production of the Almost, Maine, held on May 2, 2019 at Sir Wilfrid Laurier Secondary School in Ottawa. Photo by Holly Dueck /-
Hope played by Jade Smith, during Sir Wilfrid Laurier Secondary School’s Cappies production of the Almost, Maine, held on May 2, 2019 at Sir Wilfrid Laurier Secondary School in Ottawa.
Hope played by Jade Smith, during Sir Wilfrid Laurier Secondary School’s Cappies production of the Almost, Maine, held on May 2, 2019 at Sir Wilfrid Laurier Secondary School in Ottawa. Photo by Sarah Woods /-

About the reviews:
The production at Sir Wilfrid Laurier Secondary School was reviewed by 23 critics representing 8 schools. The critic discussions were mentored by teacher Erin Stokes of St. Joseph High School and student reviews were edited and selected for publication by teacher Erin Bennett of St. Mark High School, who could see only the reviews, not the names or schools of the reviewers.

Next review: St. Joseph High School’s production of Murder’s in the Heir.

About the Cappies:
The Citizen and 26 high schools are participating in the Cappies, a Washington, D.C.-based program that uses high school critics to review high school theatre. The program is a unique partnership between the Citizen, the Ottawa-Carleton District School Board and the Ottawa Catholic School Board. Three schools from other boards in the region and two private schools have also joined. The four winners of the lead acting categories will receive a bursary provided by the international law firm Gowling WLG Canada LLP. Follow the Cappies on Twitter @OttawaCappies.

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