Playwright Frank Tangredi's take on the myth of Pygmalion and Galatea is original and engaging, with unexpected, postmodern twists on conventional wisdom. Lovingly acted and directed by the Dreamhouse Ensemble under the direction of Alex Sol, the play explores the layers of perception.
Set in one of the boroughs of present-day New York, the tangled story weaves together retired fireman Al Hagen (Ron Quigley) and his wife, Kate (Adrian Lee), with neurotic, obsessive sculptress Merle (Lorianne Hill). Merle is searching for inspiration and a model when she spies Kate at the grocery store and instantly seizes on this woman who seems already to be carved from stone.
Al and Kate have been married for 35 years, and every moment appears to be torture for both of them. They are a working-class George and Martha, forever at each other's throats, without niceties of academe. Merle convinces Kate to pose for her—with a little help from Kate's daughter, Barbara (Jacqueline Hickel)—then becomes convinced that Kate is the victim of an abusive husband. Merle soon pours her rage out on her understanding boyfriend, Adam (Ross Kramer), but makes little headway in melting Kate's icy exterior.
The fascination of the play, and of Tangredi's perspective, is that the characters turn out to be much different from how they appear. Much as in life, our first impressions are often wrong, and this is certainly true of this play.
The acting is fine and specific. Hill is energetic and passionate in her neurosis, Quigley is rugged and poignant in his portrayal of the soulful fireman, and Lee is marvelous as the stone-cold wife with a heart of steel. Kramer is terrific, affable and pointed as the boyfriend, and Hickel is dynamic as the dutiful daughter. Sol provides sensible, sensitive direction throughout.
Presented by the Dreamhouse Ensemble at The Space, 665 N. Heliotrope Dr., Hollywood. Fri.-Sat. 8 p.m., Sun. 7 p.m. (Also Sat. 2 p.m. Apr. 7. Sun. 2 p.m. Mar. 4-25.) Feb. 23-Apr. 14. (323) 871-1970. www.dreamhouseensemble.com.