THEATER REVIEW: An imposing ‘Brownstone’ born in Laguna

Catherine Butterfield is a playwright, actress and director who uses “only” two of these talents to bring “Brownstone” to the Laguna Playhouse in its world premiere. Imagine if she’d chosen to act in it as well.

Butterfield’s latest project is set in three time periods “” 1937, 1978 and 2000 “” and the stories are told alternately, until they finally coalesce at the play’s conclusion. A tricky assignment, but luckily, the playwright’s vision is beautifully interpreted by the director, who are one and the same.

With three stories weaving their way through one script, the possibility looms that one may overshadow the other two. Not so at the playhouse, where a splendidly balanced cast keeps each scenario vital and involving via a series of brief vignettes that serves to stretch the audience’s imagination.

The “brownstone” in question is a stately old townhouse in New York City that serves as home base to (a) a well-to-do couple hoping to move to Paris at a terribly inconvenient time in history; (b) two young, would-be actresses from Texas who take differing career paths; and (c) a new millennium self-absorbed “power couple” ruthless in their quest for self-satisfaction.

The first two plots unfold gradually, the third with a bang. Yet by intermission, all three segments have captured their audience’s attention and appreciation. Butterfield moves her characters “” and their period accouterments “” seamlessly in and out of the constantly transcending oversized apartment, building each story in the process.

In the earliest scenario, heiress Davia (Deborah Puette) and journalist Stephen (Brian Rohan) enact a formal first meeting, thrust together by her father for romantic purposes. Wary of this setup, they nevertheless fall, gradually, in love and book passage for Paris “” just as Hitler is launching his conquest of Europe.

The middle pair, Maureen (Kim Shively) and Deena (Dorothea Harahan), are setting out on their own, thanks to another rich father, as they set their sights on Broadway. Though Butterfield doesn’t mention it, we’re pretty sure that the increasingly insecure Deena will be a witness to John Lennon’s murder in the future.

Finally, in a story line encompassing the 9/11 tragedy, Jason (Gino Anthony Pesi) and Jessica (Laurie Naughton) bring their passion for life, work and each other into the brownstone. But can such ego and self-esteem survive an unplanned pregnancy?

The six performers are admirably well balanced, though Harahan and Naughton have been blessed with the juiciest characters and they respond with superb interpretations. Rohan and Puette enjoy a more formal, but no less satisfying, romance, while Shively functions as a grounding device for Harahan’s increasingly disturbed persona and Pesi thrusts his hedonistic attitude into high gear.

Using mementos left behind, Butterfield connects the her stories in a touching epilogue “” with Rohan appearing as his character’s own grandson. It’s a forgivable contrivance.

“Brownstone” is a glowing credit to its author-director and to the playhouse itself for commissioning and presenting it. It’s a well-crafted, involving character study that should enjoy tremendous success in the future.

WHAT: “Brownstone”

WHERE: Laguna Playhouse, 606 Laguna Canyon Road, Laguna Beach

WHEN: 8 p.m. Tuesdays through Fridays, 2 and 8 p.m. Saturdays, 2 p.m. Sundays until April 27

COST: $25 - $65

CALL: (949) 497-0787

TOM TITUS reviews local theater for the Coastline Pilot.