A Dream Within a Dream

It’s difficult to state why this show is such an absolute must-see without giving away too much of what makes it so special. A Dream Within a Dream is an ode to all things Edgar Allan Poe. However, rather than force people to idly sit through a 60-minute play, the show’s creators have put together an interactive journey that transports the audience directly into Poe’s world.

Our eccentric writer has passed away under mysterious circumstances, and you have been tasked with helping the local enforcement uncover the truth behind a slew of ‘Poe’ sightings.

The cast is impeccable. Without giving anything away, be assured each actor is truly mesmerizing to watch. A standout among seventeen  standouts, Ian Roger’s astonishingly real Edgar Allan Poe deserves particular mention.

So seamless is the flow of the journey and so powerful each and every performance, you would never guess without reading the program that this show was co-directed and produced by no less than three different people: Jennifer Schwed, Nasreen Alkhateeb, and Doug Bradshaw. These three, together with a talented team of over 18 lighting designers, prop masters, sound gurus, and media technicians have transformed a three-story townhouse into a jaw dropping, awe-inspiring Poe Universe.

My only qualm was this: there wasn’t a clear opportunity to give the cast and crew the raucous applause they so readily deserved.

So do yourself a favor and visit the Union Stylus for an adventure you won’t soon forget — there is nothing else like it. Poe may thank you for it.

You can tell him I sent you.

Take me to the DCTS 2014 Capital Fringe Guide