Dream Jar

Review

Review from Tolucan Times and Canyon Crier
By Mary Mallory

The First Light Players premiere of "Dream Jar" features thoughfull subject matter and good acting as it examines the romantic choices of three generations of women, and how the past informs the present.  Belief in oneself will be reflected in the persons we choose to love.

"Dream Jar" tells the story of Annie Kate (Olivia Gowan), a young women in a small Southern town looking for love and commitment with the handsome yet superficial Clay (Scott Blair) as her family prepares for the Annual Church Homecoming Day.

While containing intelligent subject matter and thoughfull examination of issues, the production occationally preaches too much and runs too long.  Either an intermission or quicker set changes would aide the pace and length.

Gowan radiates enormous charm and expressiveness as the graceful, innocent Annie Kate.  Carol Shearer brings a flirtatious playfulness to the older Southern belle Mabel.  Kay Dease' Carrie Leigh pulls no punches as the brutally honest yet sentimental grandmother.  The production work is first rate.

Ending on a not of acceptance and hope, "Dream Jar" gracefully presents spiritual and ethical dilemmas in making romantic and work choices without becomming too heavy handed or judgemental.  The production highlights the need for self-confidence and respect in achieving our dreams and aspirations.

Overview

Where Dream Jar Came From

By: Olivia Gowan

I took a playwriting class not thinking I would be any good at writing because I always struggled in English to put a sentence together.  It was apart of my program as a theatre major and my college advisor encouraged me to do it.   I proved myself with my first one act, where I wrote it the night before.  I thought it was a drama between a mother and daughter but I was surprise when it got so many laughs. My teacher saw potential in me even through my grammar errors. She put me into an independent program to write a full length play. I had problems getting started and had to ask for extension through the summer.  I lost my job, my roommate, students were home for the summer and my air condition was broken.  I was forced to sit down and write because there was nothing that could distract me.  It was perfect conditions for pouring out my emotions for art.  My teacher was relieved when she finally saw it cross her desk.  I was relieved to finally receive a grade A then incomplete. It took me about four days of non-stop focus and honesty from my heart.  I wrote about what I knew and not about what would be impressive. And that’s what made my teacher decide to produce it in the upcoming season. All of it came as such as surprise to a kid who barely passed English and had no desire to write.  Until I took a random class in playwriting where I discovery I had a voice.

Why Dream Jar Needs To Seen

Most young girls today are struggling with their value.  I believe that God created women in His imagine of beauty and sensuality. Men often say that this is a woman’s world. Women control men by exuding beauty and confidence. Sometimes it is just the look she gives a man that will make him fight wars or simply be a father and provider.  Do women realize this power? This isn’t the message I see in our world today.   Women either have to compete with men, a feminist approach. Or be the other extreme opposite where women sell sexuality cheaply, which will de-value a woman’s worth.  Women want to be beautiful and Men want a reason to fight for them.  The reason this lovely theme is over-produced in our hearts, within our literature, and seen on our movie screens is because that is way it should be.  Dream Jar is about a young girl who wants to fall in love and be beautiful to the man she loves.  But the question is, does it matter who she chooses and how she goes about it?  It does if she has value in herself.  And what does that value look like? I want woman to understand that they have a power, in the so-called man’s world, in simply being a woman. Sexuality has been misused and confidence for a woman doesn’t have to be about trading in her femininity.  I want to send a message that women can be sensuous and confident in their sexuality, not hidden and not cheapened

Cast

Young Annie Kate - Lanie Grahm

Adult Annie Kate - Olivia Gowan

Clay - Scott Blair

Lillian - Leslie McElroy

Carrie Leigh - Kay Dease

Mabel - Carol Shearer

Uncle Bucky - Greg Beastrom

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