Costume manager Sarah Gill sends a dapperly dressed couple on to the stage for the Har-Ber production of Almost, Maine. After school rehearsals take place everyday in preparation for the upcoming play. The play features a series of nine duets that focus on moments in time in the quaint town of Almost, Maine.

“There are very realistic situations throughout the play, so it’s very easy to relate to the couples,” said junior Sarah Gill.

According to National Public Radio, Almost, Maine was the number one produced play in high schools. Schools in Northwest Arkansas have also produced this play, including Fayetteville High School.

“Almost, Maine is a mature play, but utterly relatable. I think Har-Ber is ready for a more modern play. This will be good for our school,” said theatre teacher Samantha Couch.

Witty characters fall in and out of love in the small town of Almost. The events that the characters in romantic play go through are happening all at the same time. Love and loss are featured all in a heartbeat.

However, there is controversy with the play due to the fact that one of the stories features a same sex couple. The scene portrays two men, Randy and Chad, who confess their love for each other.

“Being gay is a very touchy issue right now- not just in the play, but in the real world. The play is very realistic, so I feel like it’s right to have a scene with a same sex couple and to portray that relationship, because there are many different types of love,” said Gill.

Sophomore Olivia Moore portrays Glory, a character who gets paired with East, played by Tanner Passmore.

“Interesting, different, and eye opening. I have never seen a script like Almost, Maine. There are a lot of hidden meanings and things that are kind of odd, and I hope that people understand the message that we are trying to get across in the performance,” said Moore.

For this particular play, there will be only one showing of Almost, Maine. The theater production of the play will take place on Thursday, October 22 at 7:00 p.m. in the Performing Arts Center.

“Almost, Maine is a play filled with stories about the twists and turns of love and loss. It represents the many stages of a relationship,” said Couch.

Students, parents, and the community can look forward to heartbreak scenes, proposal scenes, and scenes including confessions of love in the Har-Ber theater performance of this eye- opening play.