What is the cost of one’s story? That’s the root of Eliana Pipes’ Dream Hou$e, now playing in Kentfield on the main stage of the College of Marin’s James Dunn Theatre through March 15.
Sisters Patricia (Raysheina de Leon-Ruhs) and Julia (Katia Quintero) have inherited their family home. Looking to cash in and realize the American dream, Patricia has convinced Julia to sell the home on a reality TV show. But both sisters are unprepared for the flood of crew the show brings in and host Tessa Westbrooks’ (Sarah Liller) ulterior motives. Thus begins a magical realism journey regarding what we know about who we are and what the past means for the future.
De Leon-Ruhs and Quintero are well-suited to their roles as the aspirational Patricia and the sentimental Julia. Liller does her best work when things take a darker turn, and the scene with the teeth (one just has to see it) is chilling in its menace.
The set by Malcolm Rogers is beautiful, with interesting details that really speak to what is being given up. Costumes by Abra Berman are fun and fitting, with extra kudos for taking the risk on the final bright-orange pantsuit.
All that being said, this is, at its heart, an intimate show. The decision to place it on the large stage after doing a show like Mystic Pizza in the smaller Studio space was baffling and unfortunate. It’s likely that, being a college, the decision came down to factors outside the theater department’s control, but it robbed the show of the intimacy it needed.
The actors struggled with projection and articulation. There were also some obvious line flubs and technical difficulties with which the cast didn’t seem to know how to deal. That’s to be expected on opening, but it was an unfortunate addition to a show already fighting against its environment.
Lisa Morse is a good director. She has a great eye for stage pictures and clean direction, and she seems to really care for her students, but one wonders whether this show would have prospered from the lived experience of a Global Majority director.
The main point of college theater is learning. The cast will get stronger with their lines, and the energy will even out as they fully settle into the show.
Underneath it all, this is a sweet show about sisterhood, and it is definitely worth the drive to Kentfield.
‘Dream Hou$e’ runs through March 15 in the James Dunn Theatre at the College of Marin, 835 College Ave., Kentfield. Thursday–Saturday, 7:30pm; Sunday, 2pm. Free. Donations welcome. 415.485.9385. pa.marin.edu.
