Our Town

The Stage Manager is the play’s narrator and acts as the bridge of communication between the players and audience. He speaks in a matter-of-fact tone with an air of understanding, wisdom, and objectivity. His character breaks the fourth wall throughout his entire performance, addressing the audience directly as he describes the town, its people, and his views on humanity and eternity. Like the townspeople, he revels in the beauty of nature—the hills, mountains, stars, sun, and space itself. The Stage Manager is the first character the audience is exposed to, and he begins by introducing a layout of the town and the simple, repetitive, but pleasant nature of life in Grover’s Corners. He is omniscient and can see and remember the past, present, and future, and uses this ability to take Emily to her past upon her request when she dies. The Stage Manager introduces each character, including the ways that many of them eventually die. He serves as an anchor who keeps the audience on track as they follow the townspeople of Grover’s Corners through their youths, marriages, and deaths. The Stage Manager also steps into the play as an actor, taking up minor roles such as Mr Morgan and the Minister at Emily and George’s wedding.