Interview: Co-Stars Rachel Hemphill Dickson and Steve Scott Talk The Ensemble Theatre's PLENTY OF TIME

It's barely May and The Ensemble Theatre stage is steamier than Houston in July because of John Shevin Foster's contemporary romantic comedy PLENTY OF TIME.

BroadwayWorld talks to PLENTY OF TIME co-stars Rachel Hemphill Dickson and Steve Scott about the 43-year long clandestine love affair between their characters, Christina and Corey.

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PLENTY OF TIME begins in 1968 Oak Bluffs (the black section of Martha's Vineyard). An uppity Southern belle and Black Panther have just caught The Fever. Complications immediately ensue for obvious reasons. For one, revolutionary socialism and Friedman capitalism tend to clash.

It's a struggle for the two to understand each other. "If you were growing up in the sixties in America there was a lot going on with equal rights. America was in the middle of the Vietnam War. Blacks were unemployed," says Scott. "Corey grew up trying to navigate his way through all of these negatives. He didn't have parents who had a lot of money and education like Christina did."

And it's a struggle for the two to proudly love each other in the open. While Corey's upbringing is modest, Christina's childhood conjures up Jack and Jill of America events and paper-bag tests. "[Corey] is from the wrong social class. Her parents would disapprove strongly if she brought him home," says Scott. "Guess who's not coming home to dinner."

"It is all of that which comes with meeting the societal, familial and personal expectations of being a part of those factions" keeping the two apart, says Hemphill Dickson. But the actress says, over the course of the play, Corey and Christina "work through life changes to come to a common ground" proving that "it does not matter from whence you came, love can win overall all."

PLENTY OF TIME follows Corey and Christina through the decades, leaving them only in the noughties--2011, so the time period and social atmosphere of each decade informs the interactions between the couple. In their 20s, Corey meets black power and Christina meets feminism. In their 30s, they meet high-powered, high-paying jobs. In middle age, they meet joint pain and more growing pains. The through line of the play and the decades is that they do it together.

"The time period and social climate does play a role in their relationship, but I think it brings them closer together. The world that's going on outside of this room where these two lovers meet might be chaotic or hard to deal with, but Corey and Christina find solace and clarity and love on the inside," says Hemphill Dickson. "How they come together over these changes makes for the romance and the comedy."

Hemphill Dickson and Scott both say that PLENTY OF TIME mines humor from the absurdity of everyday life. "Real life is very funny," says Scott. So is honesty says Hemphill Dickson: "I think that we attempt to handle the story in a very honest way and that's where all of the comedy comes out. I think people love seeing images of themselves or other people they know in their life presented on stage."

All this places PLENTY OF TIME a cut above the traditional romantic comedy. The script is smarter and the characters are realer. And yet, as smart as it is, it is really very simple. "It's a two person live show with two passionate characters living out a love affair, right in front of you," says Scott.

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PLENTY OF TIME runs through June 5. Performances are Thursdays at 7:30 p.m; Fridays at 8 p.m; Saturdays at 2 p.m. and 8 p.m; and Sundays at 3 p.m. The Ensemble Theatre, 3535 Main St. 713-520-0055. EnsembleHouston.com. $23 - $50.

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