Laughing in the ‘Lobby’
Young Chang
Simon Billig says it’s interesting being on the other side.
Most of us, for some reason, get scared of cops, the actor says. They
have this demeanor and this look that succeeds in intimidating not only
the bad guys, but the good ones too.
But Billig is trying to find his way past the fears and stereotypes as
someone who’s playing a police officer for South Coast Repertory’s
Mainstage run of “Lobby Hero,” by playwright Kenneth Lonergan.
“It’s always interesting to be on the other side of the road,” said
Billig, an SCR veteran who most recently acted in “Entertaining Mr.
Sloane” and “Tom Walker.”
Before the show opens its regular run on Feb. 23, the actor is hoping
to go on a ride along with the Santa Ana Police Department to learn
police protocol. He wants to observe how cops stand, how they walk and
talk, how they are when talking to friends and how they are when
approaching a car window to tell the driver to step out.
“Lobby Hero,” a comic drama, is about a newbie security guard (Kevin
Corrigan) in Manhattan and the acquaintance he makes with two New York
City police officers (played by Billig and Tessa Auberjonois) who roam
the nearby blocks at night. When Jeff the guard gets caught in the middle
of a murder investigation, he must explore the difference between making
the right choice and exploiting the system.
Billig’s character isn’t the most moral cop in the world when it comes
to personal issues, yet he is good at his job and truly believes in
enforcing the law.
“That’s the kind of thing Kenneth explores,” said the 35-year-old
Billig, who lives in Connecticut. “I think he’s a really incredible
playwright. He captures humanity in a visceral, darkly funny way.”
Known for writing the original version of “Analyze This” and the
script for “You Can Count on Me” (he also directed the film), Lonergan
wrote “Lobby Hero” for SCR’s NewSCRipts Play Reading program six years
ago.
His work -- including the plays “This Is Our Youth” and “The Waverly
Gallery” -- is unique in both construction and style.
“They’re realistically written,” said Jerry Patch, dramaturge for the
show, of Lonergan’s scripts. “The interrelationships between the
characters and between their predicaments I think are what really sets
them apart.”
There is also Lonergan’s unique sense of irony. Patch refers to “You
Can Count on Me,” commenting that the pair of siblings in the movie
aren’t very reliable at all.
“And Kenny’s also very good at finding all the kind of ambiguity, the
points and counterpoints, the twists and turns, in the motivations for
what we do, and putting those things on stage in these characters,” Patch
said.
The characters are also essential in conveying Lonergan’s much-lauded
style for humor.
“It’s all character-based, which is the best kind of humor,” Patch
said. “What’s funny about what they’re saying is their personal stakes in
what’s going on.”
FYI
* What: “Lobby Hero”
* When: Through March 24. Show times are 8 p.m. Tuesday through
Friday, 2:30 and 8 p.m. Saturday and 2:30 and 7:30 p.m. Sunday
* Where: South Coast Repertory, 655 Town Center Drive, Costa Mesa
* Cost: $27-$52
* Call: (714) 708-5555
All the latest on Orange County from Orange County.
Get our free TimesOC newsletter.
You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Daily Pilot.