Dream of Me

Written by Alexandria LaPorte

Directed by Hilary Krishnan

The Cell

338 West 23rd Street

646-861-2253

 

Review by Kristin Forte

 

Countless plays have been described as thought-provoking, but Mainspring Collective’s Dream of Me takes that label to new heights. A poignant and passionate piece, it explores the deepest sorrows and boundless joys that love inflicts on the hearts of New York City dwellers.

 

A masterful, uninhibited cast creates a mosaic of heartache and tenderness through a series of vignettes. Though it has no beginning, middle or end, this voyeuristic look into the lives of strangers is quite cohesive, with a universal theme that connects the performers and audience: Surrendering to love can bring equally overwhelming emotions of happiness and despair, but, without experiencing the bad, how could we appreciate the good?

 

The Cell, a narrow building with white walls and bench seating, lends an intimate, chapel-like ambiance that nurtures the personal and intense script. Though there is brief use of a video screen (in a laugh-out-loud, no-holds-barred scene that half-mocks the “missed connections” posts on craigslist), the minimal lighting changes and essentials-only prop usage maintain a stripped-down, bare-bones feel. The moving monologues and ensemble scenes are a form of group therapy for the audience, touching on questions that everyone contemplates: Why do you love me? Why did you leave me? What is love really?

 

There is no heavy makeup or flashy costumes — just the opposite. The play contains full-frontal nudity, and the actors’ exposure enhances their character’s vulnerability as well as the audience’s appreciation for their commitment to their craft.

 

The outstanding ensemble of eight (Laine Bonstein, Lila Green, Jimmy Juste, Shawn Rice, Richard Saudek, Amy Temple, Jenna Weinberg and Julia Zangrilli) manage to simultaneously entertain, provoke and enlighten the audience. Juste leaves an especially lasting impression, with his comedic timing, soul-baring monologue and smooth-as-silk singing voice.

 

Dream of Me is a powerful, inherently human work that is a must-see for anyone who ponders the profundity of love and appreciates theater that stimulates the mind.