DRAMATURGICAL NOTES “Do you remember how easy it used to be to make money?” Nick Dahner laments in Steven Deitz’s Rancho Mirage. And less than a decade ago, it was. Before the economic crisis 2007, the American middle class was relatively stable: jobs were in ample supply, salaries were on the rise, and people were buying the homes of their dreams. Then the housing bubble burst, and suddenly, families were forced to contend with foreclosures, lay-offs, salary cuts, and the prospect that the next generation may be in worse economic condition than that of their parents. National foreclosure rates have decreased over the past three years, but for many, the Dahners’ struggles are still prevalent. One in every 598 housing units in Maryland received a foreclosure filing in July of 2013, compared to one in 1,001 nationally—making it the ninth worst state for foreclosures in the country. Nick and Diane are forced to come to terms with a radically different economic reality, in the same way that thousands of Americans have been evicted from their homes and forced to restart their lives. The Dahners’ economic struggles aren’t the only secrets that reveal themselves over the course of their tumultuous evening, but they are an example of how the American Dream is radically changing. For generations, James Truslow Adams’ 1931 definition of the Dream has served as a national mantra: “the dream of a land in which life should be better and richer and fuller for everyone, with opportunity for each according to ability or achievement.” Today, in an economic environment where opportunities are sparse and growth is limited, these ideals are simply no longer possible. But Americans are nothing if not determined. According to a 2011 survey, the majority of the population is confident that their American Dream is achievable—what’s changed is their definition. Homeownership and wealth ranked dead last in terms of defining factors; family came in first. Americans are reshaping their dreams, just as the disillusioned characters are forced to do in Steven Dietz’ play. As wine flows and inhibitions drop, the six friends expose secrets and betrayals that for years have been ignored for the sake of complacency. The insulated world of Rancho Mirage is suddenly bombarded with difficult, painful realities, but at the heart of these struggles is honesty—something the three couples have long avoided. So, although their new American Dream may no longer include expensive cars or colossal homes, it could offer something even more valuable.
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