The Assembly Theater Project’s latest production, That Poor Dream, written collectively by its members and the performers and directed by Jess Chayes, takes a unique approach to age-old class struggle. Inspired by Dickens' Great Expectations, and set on a Metro-North train from New York City to Fairfield, Connecticut, the play tells the story of Pip (played by Edward Bauer), a young man who had a rough childhood but now, well-educated and smartly dressed, is "living the dream."

Although financially stable, Pip is presented to us as a young man with emotional struggles, no different than the rest of us. He has family issues, frustration with love interest Estella (Jocelyn Kuritsky), questions about the future -- all-in-all, typical adolescent angst.  A mysterious traveler, Magwitch (played by Terrell Wheeler), is very interested in who Pip is and how he turned out; we soon learn that this is the man who has supported Pip all these years, making sure he has everything he needs. Now, he wants to know that Pip is happy and doing something productive with his life, and attempts to make the reluctant Pip consider larger questions.

A really interesting element of the production was the video scenes that played in the background, acting as the station stops along the way. There were times in the audience, with the lighting and sound effects, that you could sense movement and felt like you were actually on a train.

What may have been a final effort to bring the journey home, however, felt a bit out of place. During the last scene, the actors stepped out of their characters and shared personal stories and hardships. While touching, it didn't seem to be the appropriate place for such revelations.

That Poor Dream, while slow-moving at times, is certainly thought-provoking. The Assembly first started developing the concept back in 2011 as the Occupy Movement swept the nation, and aimed to bring the economic and class-related struggles of the present time to the surface. Analyzing the themes and drawing upon the influence of a work as timeless as Great Expectations helped provide a foundation for new ideas and ways to connect. The commitment and passion for what they do is apparent, and their desire to provide a new perspective and bring light to the issues that matter should be applauded. One can only hope that the Assembly’s journey keeps moving in the right direction.

That Poor Dream continues its run at the New Ohio Theatre through October 26. For more information and tickets, visit https://assemblytheater.org/