LA JOLLA, California — The Coast Starlight, a world premiere, currently showing at La Jolla Playhouse, like any individual, has a unique genetic make-up. This makes sense as it grew out of the DNA New Work Series, and is the brainchild of playwright Keith Bunin. What makes this play such a departure is its lack of dialogue. Oh, don’t get me wrong, the characters are speaking, but most of the conversations occur in their heads, and the audience is only privy to their thoughts through quasi-monologue commentary.
Each traveler has his or her own raison d’etre, and has embarked on a unique journey both physically and developmentally. Meet Jane (Camila Cano-Flavia) an art student, ambivalent about her long train ride to see a boyfriend. She sketches all of the other passengers in her sketchbook, paying particular attention to one. T.J.( Nate Mann), a young Naval medic has boarded the train in an attempt to avoid his second deployment to Afghanistan. The train continues northward, snaking up the coast and picks up Noah (Rhys Coiro), a dude who has opted for an alternative, detached lifestyle, but is en route to visit an elderly, infirmed mother. While this trio move about the sparsely decorated set, a loud, nearly hysterical Liz (Mia Barron) consumes all of the air in the passenger car, as she has an intensely personal cell phone call at extreme decibels. Again, though lines are recited, the characters are all speaking in conditionals. “If you had told me that, I would have said…” furthering the sensation of surrealism and fantasy.
At a stop north of Los Angeles, an inebriated middle-aged traveling salesman boarded. Ed (Rob Yang) is ready to spar with anyone who impedes him, due to his self-pity and sense of impotence in providing for his family. Finally, the last cast member to join our emotionally laden, and sojourning manifest is a beautiful African American woman, Anne (Stephanie Weeks) who has had to identify the remains of her dead brother and isn’t sure how to impart this information to her young sons.
The personal traumas of each individual are only known to us through the monologues, as the actors have very little true interaction. However, their imagined comments, discussions, and kindnesses tell the true story about how human beings behave and whether they believe they are visible or not.
Written by Keith Bunin and directed by Tyne Rafaeli, the show unfurls as the audience strives to empathize and understand ethical behavior and human needs, Scenic Designer Arnulfo Maldonado along with Costume Designer Denitsa Bliznakova and Lighting Designer, Lap Chi Chu completed the setting. The Sound, by Daniel Kluger and an assist by Dramaturg Shirley Fishmen gave the show it’s inspiration and Stage Manager Ashely Martin delivered a finished project.
It is most impressive that within just 90 minutes, the writer, director, and actors make us care about these six individuals and the choices they make over the bumpy course of the miles of tracks, and how these decisions will dictate their futures.
Tickets may be purchased from LaJollaPlayhouse.org, The Coast Starlight runs through September 15.
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Trieger is a freelance writer specializing in coverage of the arts. She may be contacted via eva.trieger@sdjewishworld.com