Lucidity: Living Between Wake And Dream @ Bakehouse Theatre – Adelaide Fringe Review

Bakehouse Theatre - Studio, Mon 7 Mar If you could take control of your dreams, what would you do? Would you go on adventures, practice scenarios, or try to undo past mistakes? Might a world that you control appeal more than the waking world, with all of its struggle, unpredictability and complexity? Such is the central question posed by Lucidity, written and directed by Michael Abercromby and presented by JackRabbit Theatre. Andreas Lohmeyer captivates as Alex, a self-help guru who has run afoul of his product, a method for turning lucid dreaming into real life success. One can’t ask for much more than a sharp script, a stellar cast, and flawless execution, all of which were evident at this opening night for Adelaide Fringe. Felicity McKay steals several scenes as Alex’s younger sister Billie, who is tasked with trying to drag him out of bed to engage the real world. Meanwhile, Alex is preoccupied in a dream world of his own design with a bubbly caricature of his lost wife, Em, played to absurd male-fantasy perfection by Shaynee Brayshaw. Can Alex pull his waking life together and find love again with Ashley, imbued with charm and empathy by Charlotte Hazzard? There’s much to love in this performance, with the only sore point being that it is likely to hit close to home for those who have been party to addiction; the effectiveness with which that is achieved is a credit to the script and performers. The cast make the most of the stage with minimal props, mainly a bed linen set that serves as Alex’s refuge, and the waking and dreaming worlds are mostly distinguished by lighting. A provocative and fast-paced window into one man’s struggle with reality and fantasy, this is a play that will make you laugh, cringe, think and dream. Matt Saunders Lucidity continues at Bakehouse Theatre - Studio from 7:30pm until Sat 12 Mar. Book at FringeTIX on 1300 621 255 and adelaidefringe.com.au. Click HERE to purchase your tickets.