A cure for all bored children

Except for a few junior high school plays, the majority of actors in

South Coast Repertory Summer Players’ production of “The Phantom

Tollbooth” haven’t spent a wealth of time on stage.

But it seems they have mastered one aspect of live performance

already: the art of staying loose behind the scenes. During the

downtime between weekend shows, some cast members belt out pop tunes

while changing costumes.

Will Peterson, a Newport Coast resident with animated facial

expressions, added levity by standing just offstage and demonstrating

to the other actors how to improve their smiles.

It’s easy to stay buoyant when your fellow cast members are 10- to

16-year-olds and there are still a few weeks before school begins.

“We’re having a good time,” Will, 13, said. “It’s hard to be in a

play together and rehearse three hours a day without bonding.”

The Summer Players, South Coast Repertory’s youth theater troupe,

are halfway through their production run, having performed four times

last weekend at the theater group’s Nicholas Studio.

Each summer, a group of about 20 students are selected to

participate in the four-week program, which includes daily weekday

rehearsals and a show that plays over two consecutive weekends. To be

eligible, actors must complete at least one year of training in South

Coast Repertory’s youth or teen theater programs.

The Summer Players start the process by learning acting techniques

and discussing themes in the show.

Fifteen-year-old Alexa Harzan said she is taking her summer

activity seriously.

“I’ve loved acting since I can remember,” said Alexa, a Newport

Beach resident. “It’s my passion. I want to grow up and be an actor.”

This year’s show, “The Phantom Tollbooth,” is an adaptation of

Norton Jester’s children’s book. The show is directed by Anne Justine

D’Zmura, who made her South Coast Repertory debut in January when she

staged the Theatre for Young Audiences’ production of “The Little

Prince.”

“The Phantom Tollbooth” is the story of Milo, a bored child who

drives his toy car through a tollbooth that has magically appeared in

his room. He says, “I do hope this is an interesting game, otherwise

the afternoon will be so terribly dull,” and he finds that he is

never bored again.

The 75-minute show is heavy on imagination and wordplay, with

characters like “The Duke of Definition” and “Princess Pure Reason.”

The audience is taken to the fantastical towns of Digitopolis and

Dictionopolis in the storybook kingdom of Wisdom.

“I love the show’s wackiness,” Alexa Harzan said.

The production was chosen, in part, because it’s mid-August, when

many of the performers are beginning to get bored with their summer

routines.

Harzan said the show has motivated her to be more imaginative and

to look for fun in unconventional places.

“I’ve been thinking, instead of watching television, I should be

out doing things,” Harzan said.

IF YOU GO

WHAT: South Coast Repertory’s Summer Players present “The Phantom

Tollbooth.”

WHEN: Saturday and Sunday, 1 and 4 p.m.

WHERE: South Coast Repertory’s Nicholas Studio, 655 Town Center

Drive, Costa Mesa

COST: $7

CONTACT: South Coast Repertory box office, (714) 708-5555 or

o7www.scr.orgf7.

* ELIA POWERS is the enterprise and general assignment reporter.

He may be reached at (714) 966-4623.