O.C. THEATER : ‘Moonshadow’ Casts Different Hue on War : Orange County writer Richard Hellesen opts for a different approach to ‘Nam in ‘Moonshadow,’ which is being staged by SCR.

As a member of the literary staff for Berkeley Repertory Theater, Richard Hellesen frequently came upon scripts about the Vietnam War. He says he could always tell when the plays were autobiographical.

“It’s not hard to tell if someone is working out their own feelings and experiences,” he said.

By and large, those plays fell into two categories: The one about the guy who finds himself in ‘Nam, and the one about the guy who comes home a basket case--”the misfit vet.” So, the Orange County playwright opted for a different approach for his treatise. The result is the five-character drama “Moonshadow,” currently on South Coast Repertory’s intimate Second Stage, and set on the eve of a young draftee’s departure.

But “Moonshadow” offers yet another twist: While the character of Mark (John K. Linton) feels duty-bound to serve his country, his Midwestern parents implore him to chuck duty and head for Canada instead.

“I didn’t want a cliche,” Hellesen said.

Nor did he want what he dubs the “usual audience perception” about Vietnam--”that this war was somehow different than all other wars, because it was the one we lost.” So Hellesen’s play never identifies what war Mark is going off to fight.

“I wanted a play that was applicable to all wars.” But, he added, “it’s not as if I’m trying to deny the era.”

Indeed, the play is set on July 20, 1969--the day of the Apollo II lunar landing. That means Mark’s dilemma is juxtaposed with his little brother’s exaltation over the space program’s achievement. Rather than spending a final day with his brother, Jeff wants to stay inside watching the historic event on TV. To him the moon is closer--and more real--than Vietnam. (Nor does Jeff share his parent’s realization that this latest war will be followed by another . . . and another. As Jeff reasons, if we can go to the moon, we can surely lick our problems without having to fight any more wars.)

Stressing that the play is not autobiographical--”because I didn’t know a Mark”--Hellesen said he has much in common with Jeff. Looking back on his youth in Orange, Hellesen, 34, said, “There was no war on my street. No one in my family went--I don’t even know of anyone from the neighborhood who had to go.

“Space was more real to me than the war. I had every plastic spaceship model that was ever manufactured.”

And so, Hellesen said that, like Jeff, “a part of me still believes that because we went to the moon, all other human problems are solvable. They said we couldn’t do that, but we did it.

“I guess that’s what I got out of the ‘60s.”

Hellesen spoke over lunch recently at a restaurant near Cal State Fullerton, which is both his alma mater and his employer: He teaches two CSUF classes in introductory theater. He and his journalist-wife (Kathy Morrison, who works at the Orange County Register), make their home in Fullerton with youngsters, Andrew, 5, and Sarah, 9 months. When SCR prepared for “Moonshadow,” little Sarah was sometimes propped in one of the theater seats with her bottle.

Coming in the wake of the Persian Gulf War, “Moonshadow” has been lauded by many critics for being especially topical. But, in fact, it was originally performed in early 1987 by the Sacramento Theater Company, in a small space (some 50 seats) without sets. “I knew it was overwritten, that it was a little clunky,” Hellesen said.

Following revisions, “Moonshadow” was staged in 1989 at a small theater in Ft. Worth, Tex. Then came requests from SCR--where Hellesen is amassing a strong track record--and the Philadelphia Festival of New Plays. “That makes it four for 50,” says Hellesen, a reference to the 46 rejections “Moonshadow” has received from other theaters.

Though the play is running concurrently in Costa Mesa and Philadelphia, Hellesen said the stagings are quite different, from the sets (a giant moon looms over the stage at SCR; not so in Philadelphia), to dialogue trims made at SCR. Explained Hellesen: “Some of the lines weighted (the SCR actors) down. They found what they needed within themselves, as they worked on their characters.” He prefers SCR’s production, which is directed by Martin Benson, SCR co-founder and artistic director.

Now a familiar name at SCR, Hellesen’s “Once in Arden”--a historical drama about Polish actress Helena Modjeska (who resettled in Orange County)--was staged last year on the Mainstage. He also co-authored SCR’s 1991 Educational Touring Production, “Face2Face,” and wrote the group’s 1990 production, “Gift Rap,” as well as “The Twelve Dancing Princesses,” which was performed by SCR’s Young Conservatory Players.

“It’s been a busy year,” said Hellesen, who noted that, for the moment, he’s not writing a new play.

“You could say I’m in the note-taking stage,” he said.

Though “Moonshadow” leaves its audience up in the air as to what eventually happens to Mark in Vietnam, Hellesen said he has no interest in continuing the story in a sequel.

“I really don’t know what happens to Mark beyond the play,” Hellesen said. “Maybe once he gets to Vietnam, he’s so demoralized--by the fact that no one supports him--that he’s killed in the first week. Maybe his self-survival instincts kick in and he survives, and comes home sadder but wiser. Maybe he gets killed in a bus accident in Wyoming before he even ships out.

“The point of the play is what happens before he decides to go,” he said. “It has to do with questions that are raised too late and how Mark has, in a way, been set up. It’s less a Vietnam play than about how you get into a war step by step, and how when they come for you, it’s too late.”

“Moonshadow” continues through June 2 at the South Coast Repertory, 655 Town Center Drive, Costa Mesa. Performances: Tuesday through Friday at 8:30 p.m.; Saturday at 3 and 8:30 p.m. and Sunday at 3 and 8 p.m. Tickets: $22 to $29. Information: (714) 957-4033.