Thornton Wilder creates a very interesting and different approach in his play "Our Town". He makes use of a stage manager and very little setting by effectively drawing the initial attention of his audience. He also uses a very low-action and day-to-day plot to appeal to a wide variety of readers by providing scenes and occasions which the majority of people experience. .
Wilder's unusual and original idea of presenting a play with a plain and simple plot becomes a fascinating story with a valuable lesson. He informs the audience of the families and the family relations to begin with so that the reader will acquire some preliminary information, which will become important in the latter parts of the play. He shows how the ordinary life of an individual and one's experiences with her family should not be taken for granted. She realizes how much meaning those little interactions with her relatives really had only after she is dead and has an opportunity to look back. The audience, usually having family of their own, can see these character's situations and can compare them with their own. .
Furthermore, the author creates occasions with which much of the audience can relate. The weddings and funerals, which are in the play are easily understood and are also appealing to many readers. The struggles and worries of the characters during these times are very normal, but the author includes them in the ultimate plot, and makes the reader appreciate them by giving these details significance. He shows that they are important in the end, and they also cannot be taken for granted. .
Finally, the use of the stage manager in this play is very important. His role is a very "down to earth" character, which gives information and insight on the other characters. He actually acts as other people with small parts from time to time. This is a different idea which Wilder uses, but is effective in maintaining simplicity and not introducing too many characters.
