Vignettes of love with all the warmth of a Maine winter

Not everyone's a romantic. That said, most can appreciate the appeal of gazing at the moonlit sky, strolling hand in hand on a winter evening.

But Act II Playhouse's production of John Cariani's Almost, Maine is strictly for the romantic set, and in this case, romantic refers to those brave souls who continue to believe in a world where impossibly wondrous things happen to impossibly ordinary people.

The play consists of vignettes strung together by the connections among residents of a small Maine town. These residents spend the winter falling in and out of love under the northern lights - all while bundled up in layers and layers of clothing.

If it sounds sweet, that's because it is. Director Dan Kern brings a frosty sparkle into this Maine landscape, revealing the slush beneath these characters' frozen New England exteriors.

At first.

But as we continue along the couplings, sweetness begets sight gags, which beget puns, which quickly devolve into just plain silliness. By the time we meet a couple at the end of their marriage who are literally waiting for the other shoe to drop, which it literally does, right onto the stage, the spell is broken.

Under Kern's direction, the cast is a bit too earnest, although perhaps the only way to direct this piece is with a heavy dose of earnestness. After all, who else but the goggle-eyed would be willing to buy "They Fell," a ridiculous scene in which a pair of fishing buddies fall for each other. And yes, they actually fall onto the floor.

Each of the four actors plays multiple roles, but their versatility is met with varying levels of success.

Peter Schmitz seems to rely on the same stoicism for each character, while John Morrison has a bit more luck reeling around the emotional spectrum. Alana Gerlach rises above the treacle and stays lively, as does Kathryn Petersen - though ultimately, she is no match for the vapidity of the material.

Bill Pollock's set design is simple and quaint, mostly front doors that evoke cozy cottages and a backdrop with backlit pinholes standing in for the stars. It would have been nice to see the constellations represented, instead of swirly, abstract patterns.

And perhaps this design choice is indicative of the play's larger problems.

The constellations give meaning to the night sky, and without them, we would lose our way. Similarly, Cariani has arranged a twinkling, meandering collection of stories that leads us nowhere in particular. Cold, I know, but Almost Maine just doesn't have enough warmth to thaw this reviewer's heart.

Playing At: Act II Playhouse,

56 E. Butler Ave., Ambler.

Through: Sun., April 8.

Information: 215-654-0200

or www.act2.org.

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