Graphic by Gene Sweeney

Two of Wilder's four major plays garnered Pulitzer Prizes: Our Town (1938) and The Skin of Our Teeth (1943). His play, The Matchmaker, ran on Broadway for 486 performances (1955-1957), Wilder's Broadway record, and was later adapted into the musical Hello, Dolly!. Wilder also enjoyed enormous success with many other forms of the written and spoken word, among them translation, acting, opera librettos, novels, lecturing, teaching and film (his screenplay for Alfred Hitchcock's 1943 psycho-thriller, Shadow of a Doubt, remains a classic to this day.

Rio Rancho Players, on the other hand, are relatively new on the scene. Under the umbrella organization of Rio Rancho Creative Crossroads, they have been around since 2019. Mel Sussman is the driving creative force behind the players, while Neal Shotwell is president of the umbrella organization. Together they are driving forces for the arts in Rio Rancho.

Our Town is an encore presentation for the Players; it was their first production. They have no regular home and are performing in a makeshift space at The Neighborhood in Rio Rancho, a life plan community. The space being used is called the Dessert Theatre; it is not an ideal space for a theatrical performance. The audience is seated at tables throughout the flat-floored, low-ceilinged space. The stage is a center aisle and a narrow area along one wall of the room. A follow-spot is the basic lighting used along with general room lighting. The booth is an area on another wall with sound equipment, in full view of the audience. The tables limit the audience size greatly but are used to serve desserts free of charge to all audience members.

Because Rio Rancho Players are dedicated to being a community theatre company, they work hard to include many people. There are a lot of ushers and support personnel at the show. Indeed, I'm sure there are more people backstage and on stage than there are in the audience. The actual performance of the play almost gets lost in all the other activities.

Fortunately, this performance of Our Town is honest, genuine and heartfelt. Senior citizens mix with teenagers, as they should in this snapshot of Grover's Corners, New Hampshire. The skill level of the actors varies, but all are seriously committed to their roles. Bryce Bergot and Jessica Enger are particularly effective as the young lovers, George Gibbs and Emily Webb. Their parents are also played by strong players. Debbie Hutton is an energetic if perhaps overly optimistic stage manager.

Thornton Wilder requests that Our Town be performed with little scenery, no set, and minimal props. The Players should have resisted the urge to include set pieces such as decorated flower arbors and a paper moon/sun. The amount of space they have to perform is taken up by these unnecessary set pieces. They do mime most of the properties.

Generally speaking, this fledging company is trying to do all things all at once. Their fundraising efforts are displayed on the tables, in the program, and with roving ushers hawking raffle gift baskets. Where raising funds is necessary, focus is also paramount for any theatrical production. The play's the thing wherein you'll catch the support of the audience.

Director/Producer Mel Sussman has done a remarkable job bringing Rio Rancho Players to life. Some delegation and attention to detail are now in order for the company to take steps towards more polished performances.

Our Town, by the Rio Rancho Players, runs through October 27, 2004, at The Neighborhood in Rio Rancho, 900 Loma Colorado Blvd, Rio Rancho NM. Tickets are $25+ $20 65+/students/educators/military. For tickets and information call 505 977-4160 or visit www.rr-cc.org/rio-rancho-players.html.

Produced and Directed by Mel Sussman, The Company: Kenneth Earl Adams, Drystan Fletcher, Pam Breithupt, Ariel Frizzell, Grace L. Sussman, Katherine Gatanova, Bryce Bergdol, Kairi Frizzell, Brody Wicker, Jessica Enger, Maria Bruno, Michelle Twarog, Justin Holt, JeJe Elias, Mary Ann Steuck, Rod Etmer, Kay Peters Johnson, Richard Strife, Drystan Fletcher, Larry Bernstein , Kay Peters Johnson, Katherine Galanova, Melanie Ebaugh, Nimmie Adams, Kathy Suydam, and Anne M. Clark.