Playwright's Synopsis: "Meet the Dryers follows the story of James, an introverted 16 year old, who finds solace and acknowledgement through the extreme embellishment of stories about his real life family for his followers online. Our audiences will experience the fantastical world of James’ imagination played out onstage, as well as a glimpse into the personalities of his quirky family through their social media interactions, displayed prominently on the stage for the audience to see. When his stories begin to spin out of control, James begins to question whether he is in control of his online presence, or whether it is controlling him. Meet the Dryers is an exploration of how social media impacts our lives, no matter which generation you hail from".
The cast features the lovable Brelby Ensemble, one of the many strong choices made by director, Shelby Maticic. Because of the natural chemistry already established between the Brelby bunch, every moment of brilliant dysfunctional chaos seems effortless; it does not take a rocket science to see the amount of love these individuals have for one another. Bold is an understatement for this production, as it features not only an impressive use of visual and technological effects, but also a wide range of eccentric characters ranging from adorkable to fierce. Mat Vansen captures the moody, imaginative teenager, James Dryer, with sass and sincerity. He displays the social media addict in all of us in a lighthearted, and ridiculously truthful manner. The beloved "old married couple", Joan and Mark Dryer, are wholesomely played by Melody Chrispen and Cody Goulder. These are the parents you ask before every birthday party to stay upstairs in order to avoid embarrassment, and Chrispen and Goulder create the adoring connection we all hope to grow old with one day. On the other side of the couple train, April Rideout and Fernando Perez play the not so lovey-dovey Alex and Maria Jennings. The relationship they have created establishes a very important theme within the play, that the best form of communication is when two people are face to face.
Shelby Maticic, makes a darling appearance as Minnie Presely, the smart, genuine librarian. Shelby gives nothing but a sincere performance filled with pose and ambition. Poor Minnie is the single pringle we all hate to be at family gatherings, and Maticic's portrayal allows us to find a little sense of humor and heart within ourselves. Mia Passarella graces the stage again as the beautiful "girl next door" Rena Dryer- the token sister any family would be lucky to have. Passarella manages to balance the innocence and curiosity of a blossoming young woman, causing you to want to pinch her cheeks, or maybe ask her out on a date. Bring in the high school heart-throb Liam Dryer played by Devon Mahon, and you have a sibling match made in heaven. Mahon's delivery as the family's "golden boy" is distinct and grounded; the sibling that takes on the responsibility of keeping the family in one piece. Brian Maticic playing Hiram Finkel creates the precious next door neighbor we all wanted to have as an adopted sibling. Brian's performance of Hiram is definitely a show stealer, next to Megan O'Connor's sensual, saucy portrayal of Grandma Corky, who makes you both cringe and fall in love with her all in the same moment. With all of these characters in one room, it is only expected for chaos to be the main entree of the meal. However with connection, heart, and spirit, this cast of top notch actors create a fresh take on the modern American family that we all find in our everyday lives.
Playwrights Megan O'Conner, Shelby Maticic, and Luke Gomez hand us a play that reflect the family we go home to every night. With witty dialogue, and heartfelt moments, these writers have created a world that capture the delicious hell storm a family gathering can bring. Involving the use of technology adds the complication of today's technological obsessed world; how to truly stay connected to our loved ones without allowing a vibrating IPhone get in the way of an old-fashion conversation.
Meet the Dryers captures the family dinner we experience every holiday season; a night filled with love, disaster, and sex tips from Grandma. Brelby Theatre Company has made Season 8 a year of innovation and creativity, and this production is the epitome of that very mission.
To purchase tickets, visit brelby.com/tickets. **Contains strong adult language and material. Mature audiences preferred.**
Show Dates:
April 15th-16th, 22nd-23rd, 29th @ 7:30 pm
April 16th-17th, 23rd-24th, 30th @ 2pm
