A French set dripping with ivy seems more entertaining than the actors performing on stage, but wait, hold on to your red theater seat, because Pola will soon take the stage.Depression and disillusion set the tone for the first scene in, “Dream of a Common Language,” directed by Juanita Rice. The play will continue April 5,6,7, at 8 p.m., in Shasta Hall.

This heart-wrenching drama is set in 19th Century France and gives you a feeling of being lost on the French countryside, lost and waiting for something to happen; just anything to happen.

Clovis, played by Kiarra Lee, floats around the stage in search of her lost passion of painting. Her son nudges and clings to her, craving just an ounce of her attention. But Lee leaves you a bit bored, due to her low speech projection and quiet demeanor.Almost yawning and being distracted by the dripping green ivy set, a glimpse of hope takes the audience’s attention. Pola, played by Lauren Rhetta, bicycles swiftly across the stage.

Tall, graceful, and full of attitude, Pola steals the show. Amazing talent here at Sacramento State for Rhetta, who is a junior majoring in theater arts.

Rhetta has certainly found her calling as she portrayed Pola with glitz, glamour and class.”She was spicy and so natural,” said Dave Cloninger, a 32-year-old play connoisseur.The entire cast woke up as the following scenes included Rhetta.

The chemistry on stage grew and every actor seemed to feed off her role. Her talent was like a rainbow and at the end was a pot of gold shining on the entire cast.

A hands-on-the-hips stance was Pola. She was fed up with men having all the rewards in life and getting all the respect. Pola gave up her paintbrush and the stick of the brush and landed in the appropriate spot. Rhetta was hilarious.

A car salesman from the 19th century was played by funnyman, Kenny Townsend. Townsend portrayed Marc, the conceited painter with a few secrets up his ever-so-neatly pressed sleeves.

A daring role played by John Catching certainly caught the audience’s attention in his portrayal of Victor, the husband of Clovis.

Victor actually stripped off each piece of clothing, one by one, until Victor stood there naked.

The audience was still and their eyes were glued to the intense scene, as Catching portrayed Victor in the nude for his wife to paint. He was letting go of the entire stigma of women not being treated as equals.

A must-see production, all the way from the brilliant set designed by Ron Reisner to the charismatic acting by Lauren Rhetta.

This story will leave you thinking about your own paths not taken and the hardships of women that still exist and will probably exist till the end of time.For information, call 278-6368.