With ‘Daydream,’ the Dan Studio Series unleashes a whimsical quartet of plays

From sapphic Westerns to bubblegum-fueled debates, the Dan Studio Series’ Daydream had it all.

Running from Oct. 28 to Nov. 1, the latest instalment of Dan Studio Series (DSS) transformed the Baby Grand Theatre into a hub of imagination and creativity. The production showcased four student-written plays unified by humour and creative freedom: A Night at the Fruit Saloon, The Slow Lane, Bubblegum Theatre, and Pirates and Prejudice. True to its title, Daydream invited audiences to experience a sequence of eccentric, self-contained worlds, each as unexpectedly heartfelt as the last.

The evening opened with A Night at the Fruit Saloon, a queer, Western comedy that set the tone for the night with a mix of camp and sincerity. Its protagonist Sally Spring was a larger-than-life Western caricature on the hunt for notorious criminal Silver Tongue.

Fruit Saloon’s over-the-top plot and genuine chemistry among actors made the show my personal favourite. The campy ending was particularly entertaining: Silver Tongue was revealed to be Maggie Magpie; the woman Spring had been romancing. Chaos ensued, culminating in a classic duel at high noon.

Next came The Slow Lane, the night’s most grounded performance. Its plot involves a woman taking her G2 driving test, only to find the examiner’s her ex-boyfriend. What began as awkward small talk escalates into hilarious, emotional road rage. Though the story sometimes felt disjointed, The Slow Lane was sharply funny from start to finish, with a surprisingly heartfelt ending (no spoilers!).

After intermission, Bubblegum Theatre pulled the audience straight back into the action. The play followed a bubblegum-addicted free speech advocate debating with a dentist passionate about healthcare. While gum-chewing and dentistry clash, the pair realize they’re both constrained by larger societal structures and join forces to fight back.

Bubblegum Theatre was the most unique piece of the evening, breaking the fourth wall by including audience members in the performance. Actors handed out dental floss before the show, debated dental ethics with the crowd, and even invited the audience onstage for a dance party to close out the piece. This silly, chaotic, and meta-theatrical fun felt unique to DSS.

Writer and creator of Bubblegum Theatre, Jonas Jacobson, ArtSci ‘26, said in an in interview with The Journal that the show began with an oddly relatable moment of self-awareness when he was chewing a gum in class, and was wondering if he was doing it loudly. “My mouth was pretty dry, and I didn’t have any water, so I just kept chewing and thought, ‘Maybe this would be a fun idea for a piece’.”

What began as a small monologue evolved into a potent meditation on power, resistance, and connection. “I thought about how we go against the grain, how we make change, and that kind of inspired me,” Jacobson said. “I wanted to show people finding common ground, even when they’re ridiculous in their beliefs.”

The night wrapped with Pirates and Prejudice, a gleeful mash-up of Jane Austen and swashbuckling adventure. The play felt like a fitting send-off, featuring the most in-depth story and largest cast of the evening. True to its literary source, it remained rich with comedic moments.

Co-director of Pirates and Prejudice, Sophie Holt, ArtSci ‘28, said in an interview with The Journal that the experience was “super positive,” adding, “DSS is a place you can go and just try new things. I’d never directed before, so trying something new in such a comfortable environment where I felt really supported was amazing.”

Ultimately, Daydream embodied what the DSS does best: giving students a space to experiment and surprise themselves. “I just want people to come and see the production and laugh and honestly not think too deeply. Just go and disassociate from the realities of their hard lives and have a good time.” Holt said.

DSS Daydream felt like a love letter to theatre as a collaborative act of imagination. I left smiling, half sure I had just woken up from a dream myself.