Do you have a dream? The kind of dream that makes your whole family both respect your audacity and think you are crazy at the same time? The kind of dream that may take decades to fulfill, while quite possibly bankrupting your life savings? If the answer to this question is yes, then you will definitely appreciate the uplifting, no pun intended, themes in “Up” by Bridget Carpenter, the current main stage production at Chicago's Steppenwolf Theatre.

Ian Barford does a fine job of portraying the loveable, scruffy dreamer and inventor who once attached enough balloons to a lawn chair to unofficially launch himself into airspace. Lauren Katz provides the realistic counterpoint to his out of this world dreams and desires as his tired but supportive wife bogged down by years being the sole family breadwinner by delivering mail.

Rachel Brosnahan is a stand out as Maria, a streetwise and weary teen who has been impregnated by a “walking talking Ken doll”. Rachel does a fine job of delivering the long, philosophically mature rants that cause Mikey, aptly played by Jake Cohen, to fall in love with her. Martha Lavey adds some grit and earthiness to the piece in dual roles as the tough talking, chain smoking aunt to Maria and a cameo as Lauren Katz’ character mother as well.

I really enjoyed the way the play rambled along in intimate conversation, causing you to think you knew the outcome but suddenly at the end - twists and turns - the way life actually does - throwing the characters’ lives in whole new directions.

I took along an old-timer to this show, my surrogate grandfather Paul Genova, who is a very youthful 86 and he really loved the show as well.

The family issues and themes of financial conformity to the norm are very relevant right now given that so many Americans are currently struggling harder than ever to both make ends meet and make dreams come true.

Through Aug. 23 by Steppenwolf Theatre Company, 1650 N. Halsted St.; Running Time: 2 hours; Tickets: $20-70 at 312-335-1650 and www.steppenwolf.org