The Phillies aren’t the only locals who can pull a cool double-play.
Meet the Daley Double: Hand-in-glove twins Cassandra and Jessica Daley of Yardley are teaming up to help “Alien8” land at the Bucks County Playhouse, home turf in New Hope for the Playhouse Youth Company, whose teen-targeted musical by Kate Brennan and David Lee White will be staged July 27 to 30, with, appropriately, double performances daily.
Field of dreams? It certainly is for the talented twins, who have been making the grade since their early performing days at Afton Elementary School all the way through Pennsbury High, from which they just graduated. While the next stage of their lives will take them to college — Jess, St. John’s University in Queens, N.Y.; Cassi, University of Delaware — theater will always be in their big-time backpacks.
Not that their current histrionic roles are joined at the hip: Cassi is serving “Alien8” as student assistant director; Jess is enjoying the multiple pleasures of playing several roles.
The onstage/offstage positions for the sisters position them for what could be antagonistic attitudes. Instead, it presents a case of sibling revelry, not rivalry, as both express pride and prejudice — in favor of each other — donning their disparate roles.
“I can be more critical of her because she’s my sister,” concedes Cassi, preferring the direct approach. But whatever criticism she offers, it’s to help, not hinder, her performance. “I know that she will be critical,” says Jess. “But I welcome it.”
Two be or not two be in theater? “I’ve always loved being creative,” comments Cassi, with Jess echoing the sentiment and both their bios abetting their ambitions.
They are no strangers to the messages of “Alien8” either: Provided material about the show explains that it “challenges us to think deeply about who we really are, who we want to be, and how to reconcile differences between our present and future selves.”
Each twin has a true image of self, honed at home, allowing them to act out their own identities. Nonetheless, the two know and understand each other too well to ignore the chemistry that sparks their relationship. “She’d be the best co-star in the world to have; no one’s a better actress,” says Jess.
Concedes Cassi: “I don’t think I could ever have a better scene partner.”
Cassi, who will be studying communications at Delaware, claims words don’t fail them, but sometimes she and Jess just don’t need them.
“All we have to do is give each other a look,” and know what the other wants or needs.
Jess’ bio bespeaks a natural affinity for regional productions, with the Newtown Arts Company and Music Mountain Theatre among her credits. But what better way to have the music of the night serve as muse than appearing in “The Phantom of the Opera,” which she did at Pennsbury High.
As for kicking her theatrical ambitions into high gear, her sister student directed a one-act production of Paula Vogel’s acclaimed “How I Learned to Drive.”
How they learned to love theater? Both honor their dad, Robert, and stepmother Margaret Lewis, for their support. If the teens are driven to succeed, it’s their dad who does the actual driving.
“He especially loves the idea that we’re both in ‘Alien8’ so he doesn’t have to drive to two different shows for us,” quips Cassi.
They’re good sports when it comes to competing with each other for roles. But only one is a ... good ... sport. “I used to be a sports kid, not as much into theater,” recalls Jess. That is “until I saw a production of ‘Aladdin Jr.’ “ And then, it was a whole new world: “After that, I just wanted to be part of theater.”
Sports was never her goal, chimes in Cassi. “I have two left feet.”
But they’re both in step to bring “Alien8” to the world. If the two have a single determination to make it in theater, they double their support for each other.
Most of the time.
“If we’re up for the same role, I’ll always root for my sister,” says Jess. Cassi agrees.
To an extent.
“But maybe we root for ourselves [to get it] just a little bit more.”
Michael Elkin is a playwright, theater critic and novelist who lives in Abington. He writes occasional columns about theater and the arts.
Twins Cassi and Jess Daley
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