Almost, Maine
by John Cariani

Name: Almost, Maine
Brand: John Cariani
SKU: 9780822221562
Rating: 3.95 (2022 reviews)

Almost, Maine Book Cover — Almost, Maine Cover

Highlights

Small Cast

Female

Male

45 minsPresent DayExpandable CastingFlexible Cast SizeUnit Set/Multiple SettingsAmerican Comedy

What readers are saying

Readers have mixed feelings about this play, with many praising its heartfelt exploration of love and relationships through its unique vignette structure. Others feel it can come off as overly sentimental or clichéd, often describing it as both charming and predictable. Overall, it appears to resonate well in performance, with several noting that it reads better than it plays out on paper.

Heartwarming and touchingUnique vignette structureHumorous and relatable charactersCan feel overly sentimentalClichéd moments throughoutStage directions are distracting

Synopsis

Welcome to Almost, Maine, a place that’s so far north, it’s almost not in the United States.

It’s almost in Canada.

And it’s not quite a town, because its residents never got around to getting organized.

So it almost doesn’t exist.

One cold, clear, winter night, as the northern lights hover in the star-filled sky above, the residents of Almost, Maine, find themselves falling in and out of love in unexpected and hilarious ways.

Knees are bruised.

Hearts are broken.

But the bruises heal, and the hearts mend – almost – in this delightful midwinter night’s dream.

ThemesAmerican Drama

Press Reviews

"A charmer... unexpected magic lingers in the air like someone's breath on a cold winter’s night. John Cariani aims for the heart by way of the funny bone."
— The Star-Ledger

"Utterly endearing... it’s hard not to warm up to Almost, Maine. A crowd-pleaser."
— Broadway.com

"Sweet, poignant and witty."
— New York Daily News

"A snowy charmer... these nine tales of love in the time of frostbite have a winning glow that proves surprisingly contagious."
— The New York Sun

Characters

Character	Gender	Age	Description
PETE Who has been dating Ginette for a little while	—	—	Who has been dating Ginette for a little while
GINETTE Who has been dating Pete for a little while	—	—	Who has been dating Pete for a little while
EAST A repairman	—	—	A repairman
GLORY A hiker	—	—	A hiker
JIMMY A heating and cooling guy	—	—	A heating and cooling guy
SANDRINE Jimmy’s ex-girlfriend	—	—	Jimmy’s ex-girlfriend
WAITRESS A salty person	—	—	A salty person
MARVALYN A woman who knows pain	female	—	A woman who knows pain
STEVE A man who does not know pain	male	—	A man who does not know pain
GAYLE Lendall’s longtime girlfriend	female	—	Lendall’s longtime girlfriend
LENDALL Gayle’s longtime boyfriend	male	—	Gayle’s longtime boyfriend
RANDY/ DEENA An “Aroostook County Boy/Girl” and longtime friend of Chad/Shelly	male	—	An “Aroostook County Boy/Girl” and longtime friend of Chad/Shelly
CHAD/SHELLY An “Aroostook County Boy/Girl” and longtime friend of Randy/Deena	male	—	An “Aroostook County Boy/Girl” and longtime friend of Randy/Deena
PHIL A hard-working husband	male	—	A hard-working husband
MARCI A hard-working wife	female	—	A hard-working wife
HOPE Who has traveled the world	—	—	Who has traveled the world
MAN Who has not traveled the world	—	—	Who has not traveled the world
RHONDA A tough woman	female	—	A tough woman
DAVE A not-so-tough man who loves Rhonda	male	—	A not-so-tough man who loves Rhonda

Videos

Hope's Monologue - Almost, Maine - Elsa Moen

Available Editions

Format	Publisher	Year	Pages	ISBN-13	Price
Paperback · Third Revised Edition	Dramatists Play Service	2026	160	9780822221562	£23.48
Paperback · Middle School Version	Dramatists Play Service	—	—	9780822232568	Buy