Almost, Maine by John Cariani PDF

Almost, Maine is a play by John Cariani that explores themes of love and relationships in a small, fictional town in northern Maine. Set against a backdrop of a cold winter night, the narrative unfolds through a series of vignettes featuring various characters navigating their romantic entanglements and personal struggles. The play captures the magic and complexity of love, showcasing moments of connection, misunderstanding, and the longing for intimacy. Suitable for theater enthusiasts and students studying contemporary drama, Almost, Maine invites audiences to reflect on the nature of love and the human experience. This edition provides insights into the characters and their journeys, making it a valuable resource for both performers and readers.

Key Points

Explores the theme of love through interconnected vignettes in a small town
Features characters like Pete and Ginette navigating their romantic feelings
Set in the mythical town of Almost, Maine during a cold winter night
Captures moments of connection and misunderstanding in relationships

newtopiccyclegrowin

Author:John Cariani

127 pages

Language:English

Type:Other

Theater

newtopiccyclegrowin

Author:John Cariani

127 pages

Language:English

Type:Other

Theater

ALMOST, MAINE

by John Cariani

PROLOGUE

Music.

It is a cold Friday night in the middle of winter in a small, mythical town in northern

Maine called Almost, Maine. A field of stars – a clear, cold, moonless northern night sky

– serves as the backdrop for the entire play. Light up on Pete and Ginette sitting on a

bench in Pete’s yard, looking at the stars. They are not sitting close to each other at all

Pete is sitting on the stage right end of the bench; Ginette, on the stage left end of the

bench.

Music fades.

Long beat of Pete and Ginette looking at the stars. Ginette keeps stealing glances at

Pete.

GINETTE

Pete, I – …

(Beat. She’s about to say, “I love you.”)

PETE

What?

GINETTE

(She can’t quite do it.)

I just – am having a nice time, Pete.

PETE

I’m glad, Ginette.

GINETTE

I always do with you.

PETE

I’m glad.

(Pete and Ginette enjoy this moment together. There’s nothing else to say, so…back to

the sky.)

GINETTE

(Still can’t say what she really wants to say.)

And the stars are just - ! I didn’t know you knew all that stuff! / / After all this time, I

didn’t know you knew all that!

PETE

Well, it’s not - … It’s just stuff my dad taught me…

(Beat. There’s nothing else to say, so…back to the stars.

Beat. Ginette turns to Pete.)

GINETTE

Pete - …

PETE

(Turning to Ginette.) Yeah?

GINETTE

I love you.

(Beat. Pete just stares at Ginette.

Beat. Pete looks away from Ginette.

Beat. And does not respond.

Beat. Ginette takes in Pete’s reaction; deflates; then looks away from him, trying to

figure out what has happened. We now have two very uncomfortable people. Pete is

dealing with what Ginette has just said to him; Ginette is dealing with Pete’s response –

or lack thereof – to what she has just said.

Big…long…pause.

Finally, there’s nothing else for Pete to say but the truth, which is:)

PETE

I…love you, too.

GINETTE

Oh!!!

(Huge relief! Pete and Ginette feel JOY! Ginette shivers – a happy kind of shiver.)

PETE

Oh, are you cold? / / Wanna go inside?

GINETTE

No, no. No. I just wanna sit. Like this. Close.

(Pete and Ginette shouldn’t be close to each other at all – but for them, it’s close.)

I feel so close to you tonight. It’s nice to be close to you, Pete.

(She gets closer to him. Beat.)

It’s safe.

(She gets closer to him again. Beat.)

I like being close. Like this. I mean, I can think of other…ways…of being close to you

(i.e., sex, and they enjoy this sweetly, truly – Pete probably can’t believe she brought this

up, but he’s probably very happy that she did!) but that’s not - … I like this right now.

This kind of close. Right next to you.

(She gets even closer to him; leans right up against him. Beat.)

You know, right now, I think I’m about as close to you as I can possibly be.

(She is very content.)

PETE

(Beat. Honestly discovering.) Well … not really.

GINETTE

What?

PETE

(He is simply and truly figuring this out.) Not really. I mean, if you think about it in a

different way, you’re not really close to me at all. You’re really actually about as far

away from me as you can possibly be. I mean, if you think about it, technically – if

you’re assuming the world is round, like a ball,

(Gathering snow to make a snowball for use as a visual. This works pretty well when

little drifts of snow are attached to the bench, with the snowball resting among the drifts.)

like a snowball, the farthest away you can be from somebody is if you’re sitting right

next to them. See, if I’m here

(Points out a place on the snowball that represent him.)

and you’re here

(Points out a place on the snowball that represents her, and it’s right next to him –

practically the same place he just pointed to.),

then …

(Pete now demonstrates that if you go around the world the OTHER way – all the way

around the world the OTHER way, equatorially [not pole to pole] – that he and Ginette

are actually as far away from each other as they can possible be.

Little beat.)

… that’s far.

Overview

Almost, Maine

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FAQs

What is the setting of 'Almost, Maine'?

The play 'Almost, Maine' is set in a small, mythical town in northern Maine called Almost. The entire narrative unfolds during a cold winter night, under a clear, moonless sky filled with stars. This unique setting serves as a backdrop for the various stories of love and relationships that take place throughout the play.

Who are the main characters in 'Almost, Maine'?

The play features several main characters, including Pete and Ginette, who share a pivotal moment on a bench while looking at the stars. Other characters include Glory, East, Jimmy, Sandrine, Marvalyn, Steve, Lendall, Gayle, Chad, and Randy. Each character experiences their own story of love, loss, and connection, contributing to the overarching themes of the play.

What themes are explored in 'Almost, Maine'?

'Almost, Maine' explores themes of love, heartbreak, and the complexities of human relationships. The characters navigate their feelings of connection and disconnection, often revealing the challenges of expressing love and vulnerability. The play also touches on the idea of hope and the significance of moments that define relationships, set against the backdrop of a cold, starry night.

How does the play depict the concept of distance in relationships?

The play illustrates the concept of distance both physically and emotionally. For instance, in the scene between Pete and Ginette, Pete discusses how two people can be sitting close together yet feel far apart, using a snowball as a metaphor for distance on a spherical Earth. This theme recurs throughout the play, emphasizing how characters struggle with their feelings and the barriers that prevent them from connecting.

What is the significance of the northern lights in 'Almost, Maine'?

The northern lights serve as a powerful symbol in 'Almost, Maine', representing hope and the connection between the living and the departed. Glory believes the lights are torches carried by souls on their way to heaven, particularly as she seeks closure after the death of her husband. This belief highlights the themes of love, loss, and the longing for connection that permeate the play.

What happens between East and Glory in 'Almost, Maine'?

In 'Almost, Maine', East and Glory share a poignant moment where East unexpectedly kisses Glory, leading to a misunderstanding about their feelings. Glory reveals that she is in Almost to pay her respects to her deceased husband, which complicates the budding connection between them. This scene encapsulates the play's exploration of love, grief, and the complexities of human emotions.

How do characters in 'Almost, Maine' express their feelings?

Characters in 'Almost, Maine' often struggle to express their feelings, leading to moments of misunderstanding and vulnerability. For example, Ginette initially hesitates to confess her love to Pete, showcasing the difficulty of opening up emotionally. Throughout the play, characters engage in heartfelt conversations, awkward encounters, and moments of silence that reflect their internal conflicts and desires.