Art--a mirror of our times, endures through the ages--and great art touches us with truth, beauty and wisdom. So it is with "Our Town" and so it is with this masterful documentary on the production of that legendary classic in a "tough" school, apparently against all odds, lovingly detailed in personal stories, sometimes heartbreaking, sometimes joyful. The film works on so many different levels--the simple hard work--tremendously hard work and dedication it takes to mount ANY worthwhile artistic endeavor--the confusion with the source material that young students have, specifically with "Our Town", the sheer amazement at the audience's powerful reactions to an honest production of the work (whether by seasoned pros or high school "kids"), and the examination of just how much of a mirror of our life and times this great work can be. The director of this particular production, in utilizing the photographs of THEIR town--Compton, CA, shows just how universal the themes inherent in Our Town can be. In detailing the universality of the artistic experience, this documentary has made me appreciate Thornton Wilder's masterpiece anew--in fact, it has shed an entire new light on it for me! As a member of the performing arts community, it has also made me feel all the more proud and honored to be part of this art form that will endure as long as there are people, rich, poor, in the hills of New Hampshire, or the Mean Streets of LA--who will respond, react, take to their hearts, and in some cases become transformed by the artistic experience.
Review of OT: Our Town
