Christian Love (left) and Heather Love in "Almost, Maine." (Cindy Rice photo)

By MEG KIMMEL

“Almost, Maine,” the latest offering from Davidson Community Players, begins quietly, with two young lovers confronting an abstract conceit that suggests the complexity of being truly close to someone you love. This sweet, slightly puzzling scene is a tip-off to what’s ahead: a series of interactions involving couples wrestling with the confusion, surprise, sadness, and delight that can come with romantic love.

Early in John Cariani’s engaging play, we can pick up another hint about the storytelling, when the handyman East (Christian Love) explains to Glory (Heather Love) the origin of his hometown’s name. There were never enough people to make a real town, he tells her, so it’s an “unorganized territory.” And while I wouldn’t call the stories that comprise “Almost, Maine,” unorganized, they are certainly unorthodox, and make for a delightful evening of theater.

Isaac Josephthal and Kathryn Jeffords in "Almost, Maine." (Cindy Rice photo)

An ensemble of eight fine actors tells the whimsical stories, and director Melissa Ohlman-Roberge has given each a chance to shine. You’ll meet Jimmy (Scot Slusarick) and Sandrine (Julie VonCanon), who used to have a thing; they run into each other at the local bar on the night of Sandrine’s bachelorette party. In the saddest and perhaps most realistic vignette, you’ll see Phil (Larry Ligo) and Marcy (Ginny Darcy) struggle with lost love in middle age. And Ginette (Kathryn Jeffords) and Pete (Issac Josephthal), whose story circles the action, remind us that there is magic unfolding here.

I expect everyone will have a favorite among these nine stories, and I admit to two. In “They Fell,” Chad (Christian Love) and Randy (Slusarick) are two buddies who have more fun hanging out together than most anything else. They bowl, grab a bite to eat, drink some beers.

As the scene opens, Chad tells Randy the girl he’s been seeing has dropped him. She doesn’t like the way he smells; never has. The guys admit that this is bad, but Randy has a story to top Chad’s. It’s hilarious. What’s even funnier, and surprisingly tender, is what happens when it dawns on these two tough dudes that they just might like each other better than any old girls, for real.

My other favorite — and it is not easy to choose — is the last vignette, “Seeing the Thing,” when Dave (Slusarick again) tries to get closer to his best friend, Rhonda (VonCanon), who is by far the biggest tomboy in the North Woods of Maine. The two have been out riding snowmobiles all day — we get that they do this a lot — and they are totally outfitted for cold weather. It’s all about layers, folks, and it’s hilarious and dear to watch these two find the courage to shed them.

All theater asks for a willing suspension of disbelief, and these offbeat vignettes about love are no exception. But Ohlman-Roberge’s actors never question the reality of their stories — whether it is a shoe that somehow drops from the sky or the incredible coincidence of a waitress’s name.

“Almost, Maine” fits perfectly on the intimate stage of the Davidson Community Players’ still-new Armour Street Theatre, and will translate just as well to Spirit Square when the company opens this show in Charlotte on Jan. 7, 2010.

I understand this Davidson run is almost sold out, so call right away for tickets. I urge you to go.

‘Almost, Maine’

October 16, 17, 22, 23, 24 at 8 p.m.
October 18 & 25 at 2 p.m.
Armour Street Theatre, Armour and Watson streets, Davidson
Tickets: Adults $17.00; Students and Seniors (65 & above) $15.00
Reservations: 704-892-7918, or CarolinaTix.org
Info: www.davidsoncommunityplayers.org ^[1]