A classic three-act play, Thornton Wilder’s “Our Town,” will be performed at the Bainbridge Little Theatre, opening Thursday and continuing through the weekend. Final performance will be Sunday, March 5 at 2:30 p.m.

Most of the audience will identify with the play, as it has become a standard production for schools and community theatres through the years.

It was first performed in New Jersey in 1938, before going on to be a success on Broadway and winning the Pulitzer Prize for Drama.

It is about a fictional American small town, Grover’s Corners. It could be any small town, as seen through the lives of its citizens, and Bainbridge residents should have no trouble relating to it.

On a sparse set with few props, the storyline is kept going by the stage manager, who plays the main character. As the narrator he introduces the other characters, giving background and stories of their lives, as they interact with each other.

The play is being directed by Richard Whitehead, who says he believes Wilder intended to keep the set simplistic in order to have all the attention focused on the story—the people and the language.

It is a challenge for the actors as all activities are pantomimed. “It requires an extra talent,” he explains, as they have had to pay strict attention to learn the technique and make the actions look authentic.

There is a large cast of veteran actors and newcomers, some of whom play multiple

characters.

Stage Manager/Narrator is portrayed by Eric Gay. The two main families around whom the story revolves are the Gibbs, (Henry Intili, Ida Cooksey, Quest Brown and Addison Hill) and the Webbs, (Krystal Carter, Gavin Anderson, Alaiya Schuyler, and Scott Dunn.)

The cast list is completed by Walker Elrod, Eli Poche, Mark Jones, Gail Jones, Jenna Chambless, Megan Wimberley, Edward Moorhead, Elijah Harris, Lollie Gay, Diana Whitaker, Reagan DeLanoy, Lanie Gay, Salor Tuten and Robert Ingram.

Ingram should be very familiar to Bainbridge audiences as he began acting with the Bainbridge Little Theatre in its early years, 40 years ago, when he was a teenager.

The opening night performance is Thursday at 7:30 p.m. There will be a public reception in the Ruth Langston Garden following the performance, where the audience may mingle with the cast while enjoying wine and snacks.

Tickets will be available at the door, which opens 30 minutes prior to the curtain. Reservations can be made at the website www.bainbridgelittletheatre.com or by email bainbridgelittletheatre@gmail.com.