Review: DEAR BRUTUS at MainStage Irving-Las Colinas is beautifully enchanting!

Mike Morgan Photography

Dear Brutus

By J.M. Barrie

Directed by Rose Anne Holman

Produced by MainStage Irving Las-Colinas

Reviewed by Natalie Shaw

Have you ever had a fever dream? These dreams are often strange, vivid, and very realistic. Occasionally, they're unsettling or disturbing. Either way, we usually awake feeling as if we've experienced a episodic trance, and take a few moments to let got of a foggy, lost feeling, as if trying to find our grip on reality. I've never been one to interpret my dreams, or worry too much about why I encounter them, but, I'm tempted to reflect on the experience shortly after with thoughts like, "Wow, what if my dog could actually talk to me," or "Maybe I SHOULD look in to finding Neverland!" These visions open our minds to wonder and illusion, and a chance to see things differently. We might become curious about what life could be, or what it might've been, had we made other choices. We wonder and we daydream.

MainStage Irving Las-Colinas brings us a production in Dear Brutus that gives us much to ponder about our reality, and our would-be-reality. The play begins with our beloved characters having been invited to the home of Lob (played by Dio Garner,) who we soon learn is a mystical and mischievous creature. The play makes reference to Robin Goodfellow (or Puck, the "lob of spirits") from Shakespeare's A Midsummer Night's Dream, in comparison to Lob. Our weird little host has invited a small group of friends to enjoy the Midsummer's Eve, with plans to invite them on a journey through the enchanted forest that only appears at this time each year. Among this group of friends, there are some married couples, some single persons, and some scoundrels, but all of them have a lesson to learn about what their "might've been" would look like, had they made other life choices. These lessons will be learned in the wood!  

Our married couples include: the elderly Mr. and Mrs. Coade (played with genteel grace by Allen Matthews and Barrie Alguire,) Mr. and Mrs. Dearth (Travis Cook and Staci Cook,) and Mr. and Mrs. Purdie (Dallas Theatre Journal's Access Artist Brian Hoffman and Hanna Destiny Lynn.) The single persons include Joanna (Bethany Soder,) Lady Caroline (Kristen Sutton Ford,) and Matey (Bill Lewis.) The scoundrels are among these! The adoring youth of the story is Margaret (Carol Diaz-Arrastia.)

Relational strain is a notable theme within the play. We empathize with middle-aged couple, Mr. and Mrs. Dearth, who pine for a child of their own. Together, Travis Cook and Staci Cook are dynamic with remarkable stage chemistry. They openly express the pain that their characters are facing, both pointing the finger and blaming one another for their misfortune, while also allowing for tender moments to pass between them in due course. Mr. and Mrs. Purdie experience their own marital strains, and have managed to rope Joanna into the mix, as well. Hoffman is suave and seductive in his role as Mr. Purdie, exercising his charm, as one who enjoys a good cat-and-mouse chase. Lynn and Soder make an excellent pair in their love/hate (and love-to-hate) friendship. I especially enjoyed the moments in which these two are allied together, and am impressed with how smoothly they transition between being friends, then foes, then friends again. Ford's Lady Caroline is comically highbrowed and pretentious, especially toward Lewis' Matey, who is Lob's butler. Ford and Lewis make for an unusual couple in their Act II scene, which is deliciously ironic! We might say to Lady Caroline, "The Lady doth protest too much." (Hamlet Act III, sc 2.) Lewis' Matey is subtly crafty and jovial, while maintaining a prim and professional demeanor as the hired help in the household. Diaz-Arrastia embraces childlike innocence very nicely in movement, voice and characterization, tugging on our parental heart strings. 

Audience members are immediately captivated by the picturesque set, designed by TJ Firneno, which includes golden, floating window frames that divide the interior of the living room and the exterior of the garden. The garden boasts hanging vines, dressed by Master Carpenter/Set Dresser Josh Hensley,  which are softly lit in green and lavender light by Lighting Designer Nikki Deshea. Within the garden, Firneno and Hensley have constructed a sturdy, stone walkway that Director Rose Anne Holman creatively utilizes, allowing actors to weave in and around the set during their movements in the garden space. 

Playwright J.M. Barrie makes perfect use of Shakespeare in this whimsical comedy, and Director Holman hits the mark in bringing this magnificent story to life! Without a doubt, you will be completely captivated by the magical beauty of this production! Dear Brutus continues through March 23. Tickets are available at mainstageirving.com. 

Enjoy! 

Natalie Shaw

Audience Rating: PG for some mature themes

Running Time: 2 hours with two 10 minute intermissions

Accessible Seating: Available

Hearing Devices: Available

Sensory Friendly Showing: Not Available

ASL Showing: Not Available

Sound Level: Comfortable Volume

Noises or Visuals to Prepare For: None of Note

Photos curtesy of Kris Ikejiri