Dream, Lover! keeps it simple and scores
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Glass whittles Steve's selfish, disloyal attitude down to its essence - which really is a sad set of insecurities. Moss nails Maxine in this scene - she cleverly captures an underlying sense of vulnerability that validates an otherwise hard-edged, fiercely independent persona. The result is a scene that is honest and that brings the plot full circle to its surprise ending.
Dream, Lover! is the story of a young married man, Steve, whose ability to stay faithful to his wife, Janet played by Louise Rigdon is lessening with each passing day. His efforts to stray are not unbeknownst to Janet as she demonstrates with her heroic efforts to rein him in and out of the way of temptation.
One place Janet is unable to police, however, is Steve's imagination. The mind, unlike the man, is enjoying the risqué, raucous escapades of a playboy complete with role play. Steve's bumbling efforts to seem available to women outside of his wife are devious but the real circus of the flesh takes place in his fantasies. A capable supporting cast provides a peripheral selection of friends, associates (and temptresses) who add to an ongoing sense of organised chaos.
In times of high comedy, Glass's boisterously confident line-recital and mischievous asides to the audience authenticate the character of the quintessential deadbeat husband no job, zero motivation and an inferiority complex to boot. He does, however, have aspirations in women's apparel and, if his sales demonstration is any indication, there is only one reason why.
Despite an early sense of awkward timing, which could sensibly be attributed to nerves, Glass really came into his own in the last two acts of the play. With the evolution of his character from selfish cad to a man done wrong, the first-time leading man wore Steve riff bet the respective postures of defeat and denial with realism. His absolute haplessness and self-pity not only make his previous behaviour easier to stomach, there is also a sordid satisfaction for audience members who tire of the clichéd charming playboy who always seems to escape such situations unscathed.
If Glass's portrayal of Steve takes audience members into the clouds with his daydreams, unrealistic expectations and twisted values, Louise Rigdon's portrayal of Janet brings them to the ground with a resounding thud. Of the sensible shoes type, "Janet" has little time for daydreaming what with two jobs necessitated by her husband's aversion to gainful employment.
One of the play's funniest moments is Janet reciting at a dull roar - a list of things Steve is not to do at a lingerie party she is hosting. (If the reader has not gotten the point yet surrounding this man with lingerie and women is like inviting a wolf to a sheep shearing party.) The hilarious segment is topped off, of course, by him disobeying each instruction flagrantly. Janet's overcompensation for his plainly stupid behaviour is so desperate, even the most devilish scoundrel would have had pity. Moments ke this can make a play and with one furious, anguished tare Rigdon bagged it.
Another of the play's finest moments is a scene between Janet and Moss's character Maxine, whom she invites to her lingerie party. The female lead characters have a good chemistry made obvious by their intuitive timing and natural conversational style. Other scenes of the play involve such a high sense of drama, comedy or anxiety that the pace of this scene is refreshing. Rigdon and Moss share an easy sense of stage presence that makes them a joy to watch.
I have seen Janine Moss in two plays so far this year. In the Society's last production, Lovers at Versailles, her portrayal of Isobel - the domineering, self-centred and vain sibling to the meek at heart Anna, played by Sharon Thompson - was competent. In Dream, Lover! she assumes the duel roles of Maxine and Steve's fantasy woman Claire with fluidity. Moss's ability to interact with the audience in terms of eye contact and stage posture is engaging and she wears emotional vulnerability as well as she does the linkiness of a vixen.
The supporting cast of Dream, Lover! is proficient and serves well in fleshing out the story and providing a background to the overwhelming drama of the main characters. Interaction, such as that between Steve and his best friend Gerry - played by Ian Morgan - serve to put the plot in perspective. Although this may seem a credit to the writing and not to the actors - it takes a certain calibre of amateur thespian to enhance the plot, without overacting into the space of the main character. Morgan's portrayal is complimentary to Glass's more high spirited character. Hannah Wiley and Dina Douglas round out the supporting cast. Both women have interesting stage presence. Wiley's delivery is able but she underestimates herself on her presentation. Douglas manages to competently project to the audience - she would do well to be conservative in her emphasis, not to lose the significance of her lines. I look forward to seeing them soon in larger roles, where they can realise their potential.
Dream, Lover! is a good effort on the part of Cayman Drama Society. As per usual, the actors share an intimate chemistry that is expected in good amateur theatre. From this comes good timing and from that good comedy - Dream, Lover! is funny, sexy and not for the faint of heart. For the theatre enthusiast who enjoys racy humour and simple laughs - this play is right on time. Clockwise from top left: Steve - played by Rick Glass - shares some trademark bawdy humour with friend Gerry, played by Ian Morgan. Steve finds himself in a sticky situation - at the mercy of Janet - played by Louise Rigdon - and the vindictive Natalie.
Janet and Janine Moss's Maxine during a heart to heart.
