Having a ball ‘Rounding Third’

Tom Titus

When Michael Mulheren and Kevin Symons sit down to exchange

theater stories between performances of “Rounding Third” at the

Laguna Playhouse, it’s not difficult to spot extensions of their

onstage characters in their offstage banter.

Mulheren, who plays the hardened, veteran Little League baseball

coach in Richard Dresser’s new play, and Symons, who plays the sports

novice who becomes his assistant, are eliciting terrific response to

their two-character comedy, which continues through Feb. 3.

They’re also collecting anecdotes to be recounted in future green

room bull sessions.

One of the most memorable, Mulheren relates, occurred just a week

before, when the van used by his character was supposed to be rolled

out on stage -- but wasn’t, due to a technical glitch. “I had to open

the scene in the dark,” he recalled.

Another snafu put Symons on the spot when the zipper bag

containing the baseball equipment he’s supposed to sort out refused

to open. “I finally went backstage and got a box cutter and slit it

open,” he said. “We couldn’t do the scene without that gear.”

Since they’re the only actors on stage, Mulheren and Symons have

established a mutual dependency not uncommon in the theater, when

each is acutely dependent on the other’s timing. “It’s not

Shakespeare, but you have to develop a sense of rhythm,” Mulheren

says.

Both actors have experienced the terrifying experience of being an

understudy thrust into action on short notice. Symons remembers a

particularly edgy occurrence when he was called on to take over the

character of Biff Loman in “Death of a Salesman” -- on one day’s

rehearsal.

“The other actors would come over to me and surreptitiously move

me to where I was supposed to be,” he laughed.

For Mulheren, some of the sarcastic remarks he makes about the

musical “Brigadoon” are particularly ironic, since the actor once

performed in that musical.

And when they chat with the audience members after the show,

Mulheren says, “Someone usually comes up to me and says, ‘I knew

somebody just like you,’” recalling a particularly demanding youth

baseball coach.

And Mulheren’s drill sergeant-like character isn’t too far into

caricature.

Symons tells of his own Little League experience, when he hadn’t

obtained a larger fielder’s glove to play in an advanced division. “I

missed a grounder and the coach never let me forget it,” he says. “I

was scarred for life.”

Both have immense respect for playwright Dresser, whose characters

break out of the stereotypical mold to deal with issues that have

been suppressed, primarily Mulheren’s Don, with his commitment to the

Little League team. Symons’ neophyte Michael simply wants the

opportunity to bond with his awkward stepson.

That the Little Leaguers appear only in the minds of the playgoers

puts an extra burden on the actor-coaches. “It’s on our shoulders,”

he said. “We get to create the kids in the audiences’ mind.”

“Rounding Third” continues for one more week, closing Feb. 2, at

the Playhouse, 606 Laguna Canyon Road, Laguna Beach. Tickets may be

ordered by calling (949) 497-2787.

* TOM TITUS reviews local theater for the Coastline Pilot.