Everything takes place at nine o'clock on a cold, clear, moonless, slightly surreal Friday night in the middle of the deepest part of a northern Maine winter. All is not quite what it seems here in Almost, Maine. Residents find themselves falling in and out of love in unexpected ways in this delightful midwinter night's dream.
"A whimsical approach to the joys and perils of romance," hailed the New York Times. "Magical happenings bloom beneath 
the snowdrifts."
This is the promotional copy for tonight's fare, a co-production presented by the Lake Placid Center for the Arts (LPCA) in cooperation with Saranac Lake's professional company, Pendragon Theatre. And John Cariani's romantic comedy, "Almost, Maine," lives up to that description.
Before the play begins, I join a bevy of friendly faces admiring the artwork of North Country High School students which is currently on display at the LPCA. It's no wonder, then, that I recognize folks from Keene Central School, Clinton Community College, North Country Community College and Lake Placid Central School. Of course, most of the actors who will be taking the stage in a few minutes are also North Country residents two of whom (Clare Paulson and Leslie Dame) I recently had the pleasure of working with in "Agnes of God", also directed by "Almost, Maine" director Bonnie B. Brewer.
The curtain is open and the stage is set as I take my seat. The icy bench and frosty winter scene before me are so atmospheric and palpable that I am too chilled to take off my coat and actually leave it on until intermission. Despite the cool climate, the nine tales of love that unfold are truly heartwarming and are a lovely contrast to the starkness and frigidity of the fictional Maine town where we will spend this evening.
It's a small cast (in addition to Leslie and Clare, there are Kim Andresen, Sean B. Johnson, Stuart Ruttan and Matt Sorensen) and each cast member plays a handful of likeable characters. As we meet residents of Almost through the skillfully written vignettes, we become familiar with them and their names are not forgotten as they crop up later on when we meet other residents. Our knowledge of the town and its inhabitants grows as our circle of Almost acquaintances widens.
Through all the moving scenarios are the cleverly pervasive northern li
ghts, ever-present either as part of the scene or drawing us in during scene changes.
The vernacular "Jeezum Crow" always brought a smile to my face as did 
some of the interesting maladies like "congenital analgesia" and the idea that you've got to trick a pointillist painting before you can actually make out what the subject matter is. John Cariani's dialogue is witty throughout and his sense of humor is contagious.
That's all I want to say for now because there are still three more performances so I don't want to give too much away. If you're in Lake Placid on Feb. 24, 25 or 26, I encourage you to stop in for a bit of cheer from the residents of Almost, Maine.
--Kathleen Recchia has been enjoying the arts in the Adirondacks for about 20 years—both as observer and participant (acting, directing, and producing). She also enjoys cross-country skiing, juggling, and hosting visitors to the area at her bed & breakfast in Jay.
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