A case of ‘Nostalgia’

Young Chang

The dictionary definition of “nostalgia” is a bittersweet longing for

home, says actor Daniel Blinkoff. People who go to Lucinda Coxon’s

“Nostalgia” and remember this definition might have fewer questions at

the end.

Running on South Coast Repertory’s Second Stage through Dec. 2,

“Nostalgia” was commissioned and developed by SCR. The story combines

mythology, mystery and a cast of characters involving everyone from Sir

Arthur Conan Doyle to a woman named Buddug (pronounced Biddig) who is

known as the “sin-eater’s daughter.”

Brothers Tom and Will, played by Michael James Reed, coexist on a

South Wales farm, passed on to Will from their dead father after. Will is

the responsible sibling who claims to know how their parents would have

wanted things. Tom drinks heavily and is in love with Buddug, a forbidden

woman who lives across the river.

Buddug, played by Susannah Schulman, is a social outcast living alone

on her side of the water. Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, played by Larry Drake,

is the visitor who travels to this corner of Wales hoping someone can

help him communicate with the spirit of his dead son.

The elusive, mystical moments aside, the dark story is simply one of a

visitor, two men and one woman who try to find happiness, or try to have

the courage to even want it.

How it ends, a character says toward the beginning, is unexpected.

“We talked about the ending a lot and what it means,” Schulman said.

Buddug is desperately, bordering on hopefully, asking for “anything,”

so long as it’s then and there by the end, the Los Angeles actress added.

Blinkoff, who plays Tom, says the conclusion to his character’s role

is deceivingly positive.

“In a way, I think Tom finally finds himself and decides to live his

dream,” said Blinkoff, also from Los Angeles. “But I think people leave

with questions. The play itself doesn’t relieve the audience. It’s not so

much entertainment like a musical might be. I don’t think it necessarily

lets the audience sit back.”

Nor the actors.

Schulman said she first wondered how she would ever figure her

character out.

“But we all got to work on this puzzle together, and when something

wasn’t clear, there was a playwright there who, of course, knew

everything,” she said. “It was very, very challenging.”

Blinkoff said it takes energy to live his character on stage every

night.

“And commitment and passion, but it’s truly a pleasure to work with

this kind of language,” he said. “I often refer to Lucinda as a

modern-day Shakespeare or modern-day Chekhov. It’s really like you’re

working with poetry every night.”

David Emmes, co-founder and artistic director of SCR with Martin

Benson, said Coxon uniquely defines culture through language -- in this

case the language of Wales.

And though audience reaction to the language in “Nostalgia” has been

vaguely positive -- a lot of “I actually am not sure I got it but I

really, really like it,” said Schulman -- Coxon’s almost lyrical writing

style mystifies to the very end.

Blinkoff offers another thought on the play and its meaning -- that

Coxon wants to ask questions about life, being alive and living life

fully. The actor had personally wondered, living a post-Sept.-11-life,

how the play would offer clarity or comfort for the times.

He found both in the tough questions and even tougher answers.

“I think it’s time we need to ask those questions,” Blinkoff said.

“How do we get through the day? How do we hold every moment precious?”

FYI

WHAT: “Nostalgia”

WHEN: 7:45 p.m. Tuesday through Sunday, 2 p.m. Saturday and Sunday

though Dec. 2

WHERE: South Coast Repertory’s Second Stage, 655 Town Center Drive,

Costa Mesa

COST: $27-$51

CALL: (714) 708-5555