Undeterred, Un-Detoured : Despite a Summer of Setbacks, Alternative Repertory Theatre Is Ready for Its 9th Season

The summer wasn’t the best for the Alternative Repertory Theatre.

First, its plans to move to a new home in Santa Ana’s burgeoning Artists Village downtown didn’t work out. Then, one of the playhouse’s founders, Kathleen Bryson, gave up her post as producer because the responsibilities had become too time-consuming. (Longtime company member Gary Christensen has assumed those duties.)

Finally, the troupe learned last week that it couldn’t get the rights to stage Kaufman and Hart’s “You Can’t Take It With You,” the scheduled third show in ART’s upcoming ninth season, because a Los Angeles-area playhouse had already secured it for the same time.

As usual, said artistic director Patricia L. Terry, ART will try to make do.

Many Orange County theater-watchers didn’t think the small playhouse, in a gritty strip mall in an industrial zone, would last beyond its first season in 1987, which opened with a production of Jean-Paul Sartre’s “No Exit.”

But ART did, despite sometimes spotty attendance that tested Terry and everyone else associated with the troupe.

“Am I surprised that we’re still here? No, not at all,” she said. “There were hard times, and some of us thought we couldn’t go on, but the remainder always picked up the ball. We have a maniacal drive and passion. . . . My mom thinks I’m crazy.”

In fact, Terry trumpeted the new season, which begins with Noel Coward’s urbane comedy, “Private Lives.” The show starts a week of previews tonight and opens its regular run on Oct. 7.

The season also includes John Guare’s “The House of Blue Leaves” (Jan. 19-March 13) and Samuel Beckett’s “Endgame” (March 23-April 13). Company officials are looking for a replacement to fill the May 3-June 15 spot originally slotted for “You Can’t Take It With You.”

Of the setbacks, the most disappointing was the aborted move to the much-publicized art center developing in and around Santa Ana’s refurbished Santora Building, Terry said.

ART officials, assuming from early discussions with building owners that rent would be about the same as for their current location, which she wouldn’t specify, had even announced several weeks ago that it was a done deal.

But when the price actually came in at almost double what they are now paying, she said ART had to back off. Terry added that the playhouse will continue to explore settling at the Santora Building or some other larger, more accommodating space than its current 1,200-square-foot, 62-seat theater, but doesn’t expect to move until next year, if then.

“We just sent out a questionnaire to subscribers to rate us [and one of the things they don’t like] is our location,” she said. “Maybe they don’t like coming to a strip mall. . . . A new location might be a good idea, that’s obvious.”

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The theater also is trying to expand its patron base, a move that Terry said is reflected in the new season. The playbill, with the exception of “Endgame,” is decidedly light, which ART hopes will bring in a wider audience.

“We’ve been told we’re just too serious,” Terry said with a laugh. “We’ve got to find a way to satisfy [regular subscribers who want more challenging productions] while attracting others as well.”

Terry believes that “Private Lives” is a decent compromise. Coward’s play about reunited divorcees who love to yak at each other is intelligent and entertaining without being condescending, Terry said.

“The amazing thing about Coward is that he knew his world so well, he really captured his time,” she said. “It’s a comedy of bad manners. These characters love to flaunt their privilege in front of everyone. We love to see outrageous behavior in others.”

Terry, who directed the show, noted that she learned a few things while researching the production. For one, she was surprised to discover that regular bathing was just becoming the norm when “Private Lives” premiered in New York City in 1931.

“Running water was beginning to be available to everyone, not just the rich, so people could bathe more than before,” Terry said. “You see a lot of references to bathing in the play. There’s talk of soaps and scents. . . . You get an idea of what the period was like.”

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Noel Coward’s “Private Lives” begins previews tonight at Alternative Repertory Theatre, 1636 S. Grand Ave., Santa Ana. 8 p.m. Through Oct. 6. $11. The regular run opens Oct. 7 and plays through Nov. 11. Performances Thursdays through Saturdays at 8 p.m. and Sundays at 5 p.m. $16. (714) 836-7929.