Unexpected cast change adds spark to ‘Dream’

He’s a little bit earthy. She’s a little bit light and fun. But together, Jeramiah Peay and Jasmine Ireland are the king and queen of this summer’s Shakespeare production by Ten Bucks Theatre in Brewer.

In fact, the two actors, both 28, both graduate students at Actors Studio Drama School in New York City, are literally King Oberon and Queen Titania in “A Midsummer Night’s Dream,” playing July 15-17 and 21-23 in the outdoor arena at Indian Trail Park in Brewer.

Peay (pronounced PAY) and Ireland, who grew up in Ellsworth and graduated from the University of Maine, are also boyfriend and girlfriend. They arrived in Ellsworth this summer thinking their only summer work would be to direct two shows at The Grand Auditorium youth theater camp.

The camp is run by Ireland’s mother, Rebecca Wright, a vocal coach and drama director at Ellsworth High School. But Wright is also the costumer for “Midsummer Night’s Dream,” and when she heard several weeks ago that the director, Allen Adams, unexpectedly needed to replace Oberon and Titania for the Brewer production, she suggested Peay and her daughter as possible replacements. Adams, a theater student at UMaine, recalled seeing Ireland in several performances on campus. Without auditions and without meeting Peay, Adams made the hire.

“Jasmine was a known quantity,” said Adams, a founding member of Ten Bucks. “She is very talented. When you have the chance with someone that talented, you have to take that opportunity. When we started rehearsals with them, they immediately jumped in with both feet. They helped to save our bacon. To come up with the performances they came up with on such short notice – you can’t do that without significant talent.”

It helped that the actors had a natural dynamic between them that also works in the roles. Peay is 6 feet tall and wears a headpiece that makes him nearly a foot taller. Ireland is just over 5 feet and has a raspy voice. Their characters have a mischievous relationship, and the two actors had fun developing the repartee.

For the last two years, they have worked with each other as classmates in shows. But things have stepped up since they’ve been in a romantic liaison – and since they work all day together directing children and then show up at rehearsal playing opposite each other at night.

“It terrified me in the beginning,” said Peay, a native of southern California. “But it has worked out great. Our relationship began with a collaboration as friends. We’ve worked in every facet of the theater together so far. And we’ve found we really complement each other.”

It helps, too, that they both come from theater families. Peay’s father directed community theater, and Ireland’s mother is an actor, director and costumer. Ireland’s three younger brothers are also performers.

“When I was growing up, my mother was a theater student at UMaine,” said Ireland. “I grew up going to theater history classes and coloring with my crayons in the back of the classroom. There’s been very little time in my life when I haven’t worked with my mother. I had her as a teacher and theater director in high school. But she never pushed me into theater. She supported me. When she knew it was what I wanted, then she pushed me. But she never forced me to go into theater. I never, ever, ever thought of doing anything else.”

Mom put it this way: “Jasmine has been an actress since the day she was born. We always knew this is what she would do.”

The strong bond between mother and daughter prepared Ireland for working alongside Peay.

“He’s pragmatic, rational, structured,” she said. “I’m the energetic one. We balance each other.”

Ten Bucks Theatre Company will present “A Midsummer Night’s Dream,” 7 p.m. July 15-17 and 21-23 at Indian Trail Park in Brewer. Tickets are $10 for adults and $5 for students. For information, call. Alicia Anstead can be reached at 990-8266 and aanstead@bangordailynews.net.