Musical Inspiration

You don’t need to know the Van Morrison song that inspired “Linden Arden Stole the Highlights.” And it doesn’t matter if you do.

Certain songs affect us profoundly, and that seems to be what Morrison’s vague ballad did to writer and performer Colin Mitchell. But his treatment isn’t simply an explication or elaboration. He has created a story and fascinating character completely his own.

Mitchell previously performed “Linden Arden” at the Sierra Stage in West Hollywood in 1996, and director Barry Kramer returned to work on this new production at the Two Roads Theatre in Studio City. In between, Mitchell took his one-man show off-Broadway.

The play opens early on a Sunday morning, and Linden is preparing for sunrise mass in the tiny burgh of Arklow, Scotland, when he spots the audience in his living room. A strange device, yes, but somehow Mitchell and Kramer make it work. It lays the groundwork for a critical question in the play--is Linden insane?--and creates a parallel between the audience and the silent citizens of Arklow.

Linden begins, somehow, to tell “his story”--the one he claims Van Morrison must have heard about and turned into the song. He begins as a cocky 18-year-old living in the Tenderloin district of San Francisco, where he develops quite a career as a middle man for all sorts of illegal activity. Here, the Linden who has been putzing about his house becomes “Little Lindy,” hilariously imitating skate punks, prostitutes, drug dealers. When he absconds with a big lump of cash, though, we know there is much more to come.

In his ancestral homeland, Linden finds a unique peace: children who play in his yard, soccer-playing and ale-drinking mates, a friendly town that welcomes the American with the deep pockets. But it is only a matter of time before his past crashes in on his blissful life in Arklow.

So is he insane? Or is he the most sane person in the world to go to any length to protect the piece of paradise he found in Scotland? Has he stolen the peace that existed here on the Highlands? Or has he revealed the limits of Christian charity?

Kramer keeps what could be a rambling story on a fairly tight rein. He has Mitchell almost constantly moving--shaving, dressing, drinking--visually propelling the monologue. Mitchell--through both his writing and acting--remains riveting.

Toward the beginning of the play, Linden gripes, ‘F---in’ words. I hate ‘em. Never measure up, you know?” In writing “Linden Arden Stole the Highlights,” however, Mitchell has made the words measure up.

BE THERE

“Linden Arden Stole the Highlights,” at the Two Roads Theatre, 4348 Tujunga Ave., Studio City. Friday, 8 p.m. through Jan. 2; Saturday, 10:30 p.m. starting Jan. 10. Runs indefinitely. $12.50. (818) 766-9381. Running time: 75 minutes.