Mighty Interesting Timing

As anyone who follows the culture scene in Laguna Beach knows, that sun-and-pastels town has experienced its own arts crisis recently. The Laguna Art Museum and the Newport Harbor Art Museum are in the midst of a merger attempt that has generated tension on both sides of the issue.

Beginning tonight, another art controversy will be center stage at the Moulton Theater as the Laguna Playhouse presents the world premiere of David Drummond’s “The Labors of Hercules,” a comedy about the trouble that starts when a publicly funded sculpture is proposed for a small burg back East.

Is there a connection between “Hercules” (in previews tonight and Wednesday and opening Thursday) and the museum plan?

It’s more coincidence than anything else, said Laguna Playhouse Executive Director Richard Stein. But Stein added that the timing is perfect.

“Sure, it’s fascinating that they’ve both come up at the same time,” he said. “I mean, it may create some [additional] interest. But the theme of our play is really very different than what is going on at the museum.”

Stein paused, then laughed. “Well, we are hopeful that it all will prompt South Coast Repertory [in Costa Mesa, the Big Daddy of local playhouses] to accept our hostile takeover bid.”

That crack aside, Stein, who also directs “Hercules” (his first staging for the Laguna Playhouse), said he was reluctant to talk about the politics of the museum merger. He was more eager to discuss “Hercules,” a comedy that deals with several questions confronting public arts funding.

“I do feel a particular empathy to it, in the sense of the theme of the art wars of recent years is something I feel close to,” Stein said.

“The fact that [the playwright] chose to poke fun at all parties in the debate--uncultured people threatened by art, sanctimonious artists, corrupt politicians . . . and arts administrators caught in the middle--was something that especially attracted us.”

“Hercules” is set far away from the nation’s capital, or any other big city, in the fictional town of SweetSan, which is in need of money.

That fact pits the mayor (Maggie) against the newly appointed arts administrator (Mark). She’s willing to do just about anything to bring in cash, including opening a toxic-waste dump. Mark would rather turn the community into a cultural mecca by bringing in a famous sculptor to create a public work.

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It’s the dynamic between Maggie and Mark that inspires the show’s humor. It’s also inspired a bit of confusion for Drummond, an affable Burbank resident who works as a professional actor in Los Angeles when not writing plays.

“Actually, it’s true that I’m still trying to find out what it’s all about,” said Drummond, 34. “Is it about the politics of public art or the triumph of selfishness over altruism? The defeat of reason in current politics is probably what it’s really about.”

Whatever the thrust, “Hercules” is significant to Drummond. Besides being his first full-length production (he’s had shorter plays done in smaller “black box” theaters in the Los Angeles area) and his first for the Laguna Playhouse, the main character is modeled after his mother, a former arts commissioner for a town in southwest Michigan.

“This is not an exact correspondence to her experience, but the genesis is based on her working on her community to get respect for the arts,” he explained. “She had to start up the arts program from scratch, [encountering] all sorts of problems.

“There’s nothing like trying to justify artistic endeavors when the taxpayers aren’t interested in it or the county is close to bankruptcy.”

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To create even more comic friction than what sparks between Mark and Maggie, Drummond brings in Holo-1, an “urban-rapper-sculptor type,” who is sent as his representative by the famous sculptor awarded the project.

Drummond said that Holo-1 is more interested in exploiting the brewing controversy than making fine art. She arrives from a metropolis (not specified, but modeled after New York) blasting SweetSan and its idea of culture. She’s even opposed to the notion of arts funding, believing that creative people should make it on their own or not at all. The nasty winds swirling around Mark just get nastier.

“He’s out-liberaled by Holo-1,” Drummond said. “Mark’s life becomes hell.”

The production is also noteworthy for Stein, who has been the troupe’s executive director for six years now. “Hercules” represents a return to actual hands-on directing, a role he was familiar with before coming to Laguna.

He said it was a kick to put fund-raising, public relations and other administrative duties aside for a while and just interact with a playwright and group of actors. But will there be a repeat?

“It really depends on the right project and the circumstances, I mean because of my schedule. But it is something I miss and something that I want to do. . . . It keeps me more in contact with the artistic community.”

* The Laguna Playhouse’s production of David Drummond’s “The Labors of Hercules” is in previews tonight and Wednesday at 8 p.m. and opens Thursday at 8 p.m. at the Moulton Theater, 606 Laguna Canyon Road, Laguna Beach. The play continues through April 7. Performances are Thursdays through Saturdays at 8 p.m.; Sundays at 7 p.m. (except April 7); and Saturday and Sunday matinees at 2 p.m. $13 (previews); $18-$25 (regular run). (714) 497-2787.