Monday, October 5, 2026
Of all the shows Harlequin Productions (HQP) has put on, this is the one I have looked forward to most.
Ever since high school, I've dreamed of seeing Thornton Wilder’s "Our Town" on stage. I remain abundantly grateful to Harlequin Productions not only for fulfilling a personal life goal, but for doing so with meaningful attention to detail and a strong sense of heart — something you can feel in every moment of this lovely production.
Hurry and get your tickets now before this show sells out!
HQP also gave me the coolest excuse to reunite with one of my favorite high school teachers — the one and only Brynn Gomez from North Thurston High School, who introduced me to this play.
There aren’t enough words to express how much this reunion meant to me, but I hope what I share toward the end of this review paints a picture of what this incredible play — and this incredible teacher — mean to me.
Speaking of the review, let’s get to it.
With a cast this large, it would be nearly impossible to highlight every individual performance, so I’ll have to limit this review to the performances that resonated with me most.
The most underrated performance is always the director, and it would almost be a sin not to mention Aaron Lamb’s dedication to, and loving attention to detail throughout, this play. A million decisions go into putting on a show, and each one matters, as even the smallest choice can change how a story is told and how audiences experience it.
I applaud Lamb for his choices and for how he honored Wilder’s work and embraced why it still matters today. He found thoughtful ways to emphasize the play’s enduring relevance without losing sight of what makes "Our Town" so timeless.
Teri Lee Thomas’ depiction of the stage manager gave me goosebumps. Her performance was immaculate, deeply personal, and filled with an emotion that remained just beneath the surface — exactly as it should for a role that is, in many ways, both narrator and something almost God-like. You should make it a priority to see this show. Performances like hers are the kind you may only encounter once in a lifetime, and I would hate for you to miss out on the experience.
Both the chemistry between, and the individual performances of, Juliette Jones and Bil Nowicki as Emily and George were impressive, heartfelt, and, dare I say, one of the main reasons this production is a success.
While "Our Town" is versatile, these two characters are specific in some very crucial ways. Make them too bubbly, and the show becomes corny. Make them too serious, and it loses some of its magic. Jones and Nowicki struck that balance beautifully. I truly could not have imagined better leads for this production than these two remarkable performers.
Oh, one last thing: the lighting design deserves a special mention. I can’t reveal why without giving away a major spoiler, so I’ll say this: what Savannah Van Leuvan created for the third act felt like something approaching divine inspiration.
Alongside being my teacher, Mrs. Gomez felt like a friend, mentor, and cool aunt wrapped into one! Mrs. Gomez created such a charming atmosphere that made learning feel genuinely fun.
To this day, I can still recall the little details of her classroom and the traditions she created, like the "Great Gatsby" party she still hosts each year. Of everything we read that year, "Our Town" was my favorite and still influences the way I think and live today.
The story itself is inspiring and cleverly written, but another quality that spoke to me was its adaptability. "Our Town" is truly universal; it can be set almost anywhere, and its themes are accessible to everyone. This became even more evident when Mrs. Gomez showed us the documentary "OT: Our Town," which follows students from low-income schools as they put on the play.
One last memory has stayed with me. Mrs. Gomez gave us an assignment to write our own version of Emily’s “Goodbye, World” speech and create artwork to accompany it. For mine, I chose to create an oil pastel portrait of "The Kiss" statue in downtown Olympia.
You see, Olympia has always been my favorite little corner of the world. It means so much to me that I have lived here for 16 years and, in some small way, become part of the town’s landscape. I love that I have built such a beautiful collection of memories here and that living in this community has given me the chance to experience full-circle moments, like reuniting with Mrs. Gomez all these years later.
What can I say? I really love our town.
Rachel is a writer, arts advocate, performing arts enthusiast, and passionate about our beloved Thurston County. She holds a Bachelor of Arts degree with a double major in History and Political Science and a minor in Music. You can enjoy more of Rachel's writings by visiting her website. All inquiries for Rachel can be submitted here.
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