Cal High drama brought romance, comedy, and heartbreak to life last week with its rendition of “Almost, Maine.” 

Written by John Cariani, the play consists of nine short romantic stories that loosely tie together and are all set in the small town of Almost, Maine, giving the play its name.

The cast and crew had been working on the play, performed last Thursday and Friday in the school theater, since early September, director and drama teacher Laura Woods said. 

The production included about 50 students.

“[I hope the audience will see] how hard the actors and tech crew worked [on the show],” Woods said.

The show ran just under two hours, with an intermission in the middle. The stage design displayed a winter setting. Actors wore layers of warm clothes and the stage was full of snow. 

Each scene included a simple setting, but the actors’ performances made the story come alive. 

Typically, the scenes would include two people. Almost every line and action was delivered perfectly. The scenes flowed with ease and were easy to follow. As the show went on, the performances seemed to improve. 

The scene between Randy and Chad played by junior Ben Duggins and senior Jake Emerson, respectively, was the highlight of the show for much of the audience. 

Their performance seemed to get a bigger laugh than any other scene. The timing and execution was seamless in a scene that could have gone  horribly wrong had it not been performed well. 

“The mood of the show was my favorite part of the play,” Woods said.

Another notable scene included Rhonda and Dave played by sophomore Heather Klippness and senior David Cott, respectively. Their scene was pleasant and innocent but also had the audience’s faces blushing. 

Every scene had something clever and witty that certainly would grab the audience’s attention. 

Cal’s drama performance of “Almost, Maine” dramatized romance and love, yet felt relatable at the same time. From the heartfelt moments to the sad ones, it was clear to see the hard work and dedication that the cast and crew put into the show.