Theater -- Tom Titus
When a golfer gets a “mulligan,” it means he has a second chance after
a bad tee shot. At Costa Mesa’s Trilogy Playhouse, a Mulligan means
artistic security in two aspects of the production -- acting and set
design.
Jim Mulligan (“James” if he’s acting, “Jim” in the technical credits)
is one of the primary reasons for the success of the Trilogy, now in its
third season after five years under another designation in Laguna Niguel.
Four of those previous years also involved the performing and designing
aptitude of the versatile actor/artist.
Since the Trilogy first moved into the facilities vacated by the
Theater District in January 2000, Mulligan’s set designs have been a part
of every production. And he’s also managed to perform in most of them as
well. It’s a double duty he thoroughly enjoys.
He may be playing the monster maker in “Frankenstein,” the prince in
“Cinderella,” the opportunistic showman in “The Sound of Music” or a
whiplash victim in “Rumors” -- all of which he’s done in the past year --
or he could just be creating the physical layout for “Ruthless,” one of
the few Trilogy shows that hasn’t featured his performing acumen. In any
event, Mulligan’s artistic stamp has been on the Playhouse and its Laguna
Niguel predecessor for nearly seven years.
“I really enjoy what I do,” the energetic Mulligan declares. “Acting
and set designing are both part of the creative process. The only
difference is, when I’m finished painting a set, it’s done; it doesn’t
forget its lines.”
Mulligan, who was born in Rancho Palos Verdes and grew up in the Los
Angeles area, got into the theater as an actor at a tender age and
discovered that his penchant for drawing and sketching could serve him
equally well. He was an art major at Saddleback College, where he also
performed frequently onstage.
Now Mulligan works as a freelance artist, “earning enough to be able
to come here and do this for free,” he beams. He hopes one day to earn
his master’s degree, but his designing skills already are providing him
with a nice income. And besides, when would he find the time at his
current pace?
“I’m a starving artist who makes a pretty decent living,” he says.
As the theater’s resident designer, he’s one of the strong right hands
of Artistic Director Alicia Butler, who brought the group to Costa Mesa
and has staged every one of the Trilogy’s shows. The others are Publicity
Director Sharon Simonian and box office stalwart Pat Kane.
In the Trilogy’s first production, “Deathtrap,” Mulligan was the young
playwright, and he subsequently appeared in “Fools,” “Charlie and the
Chocolate Factory,” “The Wizard of Oz,” “Little Shop of Horrors,”
“Arsenic and Old Lace,” “Anne of Green Gables,” “Frankenstein,”
“Cinderella,” “The Sound of Music,” and the recently closed “Rumors.”
And that’s just in a little more than two years.
Mulligan, who’s worked at South Coast Repertory as a set painter on
“The Hollow Lands,” lets slip a bit of envy when discussing how larger
professional theaters such as SCR are able to draw thousands, even
millions, of dollars in charitable support, but local playhouses exist
virtually on a shoestring.
“It’s been tough getting donations,” he observes, noting that
corporate generosity seldom extends beyond the large, Equity houses.
Smaller theaters such as the Trilogy have a much tougher financial row to
hoe, he believes.
One of Mulligan’s biggest emotional rewards at the Trilogy is working
with children.
“I love the look on their faces when they come to rehearsal and the
set has been built and painted,” he says.
Though he enjoys a fine working relationship with Butler, this
friendship never guarantees him a role in a show.
“I audition like everybody else,” he declares. “I’ve never gotten a
part from any past favors.”
The future for Jim Mulligan holds more of the same, with the
Huckleberry Finn musical “Big River” next up at the Trilogy, opening June
28. After that comes “Something’s Afoot,” “A Little Princess” and
“Inspecting Carol.”
“The Trilogy has allowed me the opportunity to grow, both as an actor
and a designer,” Mulligan says. “The creative process is a team effort,
and when it all comes together, it’s wonderful.”
* TOM TITUS writes about and reviews local theater for the Daily
Pilot. His stories appear Thursdays and Saturdays.
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