Funny. Quirky. And very enjoyable.

Those are the words being used to describe Moraine Valley’s upcoming production of The American Dream by those who are involved with it.

The play is a satire of contemporary American society, centered around a typical American family. Written by Pulitzer Prize winner Edward Albee, it “hilariously and maliciously attacks the artificial, superficial, and cruel society the American Scene has become,” according to the description on the Fine and Performing Arts Center’s website.

“The show is very intriguing. It touches on real-life issues, but it takes a little bit of a more comedic spin on it.”

Saniah Johnson

Alex Hanson plays the domineering wife, named Mommy. Aidan McGuire is the submissive husband, Daddy. Stephanie Zaragoza plays the quirky yet intelligent mother-in-law, named Grandma.

Sania Johnson plays Mrs. Barker, an acquaintance of Mommy whom Grandma confides in about an awful secret. And Jalin Rivera plays the Young Man, a charming yet incomplete itinerant worker who’s unexpected arrival sends ripples of disruption through the family.

Director Craig Rosen said he chose The American Dream for the current theater season because of its satire, a genre that he enjoys, and its continuing relevance in portraying superficial perceptions and how cruel people can be to each other.

“I’ve known this play for almost 40 years, and it’s one I’ve always liked,” he said. “I always thought it was funny and quirky. And it fit into the season, so I got to direct it this year.” 

Johnson is enjoying the humor in the play, she said: “The show is very intriguing. It touches on real-life issues, but it takes a little bit of a more comedic spin on it.”

Her fellow actors agreed with her, saying it is a departure from the more serious performances they usually put on for the school. The actors work hard to understand their characters and bring them to life on stage.

Rivera revealed that his method is to “read the script a lot, and go over lines, and see what the dialogue is really saying. I also listen to a lot of music of what I think the character will relate to, and the story, so I tend to make a playlist.”

Meanwhile, Zaragoza describes how she gets into character as Grandma: “I shake my body out, get into my hunched position. I sorta do my little old lady noises like ‘Oooh!’ and ‘Eh-he-he-he-he.’”

Although the play premiered in 1961, Rosen is ensuring it connects to current-day America. The biggest change he made to the performance is in the sets, which now emphasize common American symbols, such as stars and the color trio of red, white and blue.

One person who already has faith in the production is Tara Burke, the stage manager: “I just think it’s a really amazing show with an amazing cast of people, and they’re all extremely talented.”

The American Dream will will run Feb. 23-24 and March 1-2 at 7:30 p.m., and Feb. 25 and March 3 at 3 p.m. in the John and Angeline Oremus Theater. Tickets are $10 for students, faculty and staff.

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FEATURED IMAGE PHOTO BY AIDAN MCGUIRE