Fine Acting and Flashes of Insight in an Uneven ‘Touch’

At sunset, physiological and physical optics can result in a brief flash of green light. In his 1882 novel “Le Rayon-Vert,” Jules Verne romantically suggested a person seeing the green flash could see into his own heart.

But can the heavens help a heart chilled by loss? Toni Press-Coffman’s somewhat contrived drama “Touch” explores grief, memories and green flashes, in a well-acted production at the Theatre of NOTE.

A young astronomer, Kyle (Albert Dayan), paints a vivid picture of his wife, Zoe, through a monologue that rambles from their high school days to her sudden disappearance.

As the police search for her, Kyle buries himself in research and mindless sex with a prostitute (Rebecca Gray). He ignores his childhood friend Bennie (Michael Dolotta) and Zoe’s sister Serena (McKerrin Kelly).

Director Jeremy Green carefully navigates the black holes in the writing, although Dayan’s Kyle seems too normal to be a guy who was friendless in high school.

Press-Coffman’s script isn’t always convincing. Kyle recounts intentionally inflicting physical pain on his wife--a matter Press-Coffman drops as if it were a normal part of loving coupledom. The worldly-wise prostitute shines with a perky optimism until a john beats her up.

More intriguing are the complications between friendship and love--the jealousy that Bennie felt toward Zoe and that Kyle feels when Bennie hooks up with Serena.

In a play that is about not just looking, but really seeing, the tie-in with the green flashes isn’t clear enough. When Kyle finally sees one (there are about three in the production), it’s more of a letdown than a form of closure.

BE THERE

“Touch,” Theatre of NOTE, 1517 Cahuenga Blvd., Hollywood. Thursdays-Saturdays, 8 p.m.; Sundays, 4 p.m. Ends July 23. $12 to $15. (323) 856-8611. Running time: 2 hours, 30 minutes.