Get a small cereal bowl, if you haven't got quick access to a bona fide lather bowl, and use that. If you leave a bit of water on the puck, let the bristles of the brush soak in another container, and do something, shower, whatever, for five minutes, it will give the puck time to soften a bit.

It is all about water to soap or cream ratio. I do 20 swirls one way, 20 swirls the other way to load the brush. I don't pour much of the water off of the top of the puck, but I do shake the brush out before I begin.

Experiment with the water/soap ratio, use the bowl, and you'll probably find your problem is improved, if not solved. Not everyone 'gets' lathering quickly. Took me forever to get it to the point where I felt my lather is satisfactory.

BTW, the only time I used Castle Forbes Cream it was more like a puck of soap. I'm giving this advice assuming that it still comes that way. I haven't had any in a few years.