Dancing Toward His Dream

My Life As a Cowboy

Although some Brits call it “Little Manhattan,” the South London Borough of Croydon is no New York City. The hamlet is anything but bright and exciting, and it’s especially boring to Connor. He’s a seventeen-year-old gay kid, living with his Mum and feeling weird, stuck and stagnating in this tiny town. But Connor has an unexpected secret dream and a plan of how to make it come true. He wants to enter the local talent contest as a dancing Country-and-Western cowboy. But in order to achieve his goal and begin dancing toward his dream, Connor needs to solicit the help of his friends.

Director David Zak has kicked off the New Year at Open Space Arts with a pleasant production that runs just over an hour. This sweet, enjoyable one-act comedy, written by gay English playwright Hugo Timbrell, features a unique, young protagonist who’s unlike anyone found in similar plays. Connor (engagingly portrayed with an abundance of spirit and spunk by comely, charismatic young Octavio Montes De Oca) enlists the assistance of his best gal pal, Zainab (a dynamic and attractive young actress, Momina Shahzad). He convinces her to choreograph a Country/Western dance number for both of them to perform. He’s particularly keen on sashaying to one of Shania Twain’s many hit tunes.

By day, Connor works as a lifeguard at the Croydon leisure center. He and Mike, his coworker, (a sound, commanding performance turned in by Ben Chalex) spend their days poolside, blowing their whistles and continually warning the youngsters to keep their swimming trunks on and to not pee in the water. But it turns out that Connor’s morose mate harbors a secret dream of his own. At first Mike makes fun of Connor for entering the Croydon Talent Contest, with his hope of winning and going to America to achieve stardom. But eventually Mike begins to feel more comfortable with his coworker and shares his aspiration to become a guitar-playing singer and songwriter. So it turns out that both young men are closeted Country and Western enthusiasts. 

Mr. Zak draws some fine performances from his trio of talented actors. Octavio Montes De Oca is especially likable and promising as Connor. His contagious enthusiasm and bright smile make Octavio’s performance one of the best reasons for seeing this production. But the problems lie with Timbrell’s predictable, almost sitcom-like script. 

Once the audience understands Connor’s goal, the rest of the play consists of two and three character scenes with nothing but constant bickering between the three young people. After Connor convinces Zainab to choreograph his dance number, he then spends two scenes arguing with her, trying to talk her into performing with him. Fewer disagreements and more dancing would’ve been much more entertaining. Then, after we meet Connor and Mike at work, their bantering continues by the pool. Connor finally induces Mike to write and perform an original song for his dance audition, but then the squabbling continues almost nonstop. Zainab and Mike become jealous each other and begin vying for Connor’s attention and affection. But the stakes never feel quite high enough to keep our interest and the fighting gets old very fast. 

The musical finale, however, is an extremely pleasing payoff and is much more enjoyable as entertainment. The number is sharply performed by all three actors, decked out in glitzy fringed costumes that were designed by Jade Andrews, and beautifully choreographed with flair by talented Kevin Chlapecka. The spirited Country/Western musical finale finds Connor finally dancing toward his dream. And the scene leaves theatergoers clapping and singing along and wishing that the play had more upbeat two-stepping and fewer ugly, unpleasant temper tantrums.        

Recommended

Reviewed by Colin Douglas (Please note the reviewer attended the final preview performance.)

Presented January 23-February 8 by Open Space Arts, 1411 W. Wilson Ave., Chicago.

Tickets are available at the door, by calling 773-773-7837 or by going to their website, www.openspacearts.org.

Additional information about this and other area productions can be found by visiting www.theatreinchicago.com.