Back on the beach
By KAREN SHADE, 1/8/2006
In "Love of Last Resort" at the Nightingale Theater, T.J. Bowlin (top) plays Josh and Kris Farnsworth plays Matt. ROBERT S. CROSS / Tulsa World
Actor trades a big audience for an intriguing role
T.J. Bowlin wouldn't care if no one turned up to see his portrayal of a flighty beach comber whose mental health might be questioned.
Actually, he'd be delighted to see a full house for Nightingale Theater's "Love of Last Resort." But even if only a few people come, he won't regret it.
Neither would he regret leaving behind a probable role in a show that will likely attract a huge audience keen for anything by Neil Simon.
Not that Bowlin believes he holds sway over his fellow members of Theatre Tulsa's board of directors or over the director of February's "Laughter on the 23rd Floor," but after his uproarious performance in that company's July show, "The Compleat Works of Wllm Shkspr (Abridged)," it's a sound assumption that troupe would have been glad to add him to the "Laughter" cast if he'd gone to the callbacks.
"'Laughter on the 23rd Floor' is a neat show. I like the show, but there wasn't a part of it I just died to do," said the 24-year-old Bixby High School graduate. "When Jason called me with the other opportunity, I had to do that more. My heart belongs to this project."
"This project" is an original play, presented by St. Louis-based Ragged Blade Productions and the Nightingale, co-written by playwright Jerry Rabushka. Titled "Love of Last Resort," it is a comedy about two gay men stuck on an island.
With other productions from other companies in rehearsals at the same time, Jason Watts, the director, said the play's description didn't exactly reel in a huge pool of actors during last month's auditions.
"It's an intimate, mature play . . . about these two males who form a relationship. It's not something that would appeal to me as an actor," Watts said.
But he was fortunate to find two seasoned actors who were interested and available -- Bowlin and Kris Farnsworth.
Bowlin portrays Josh, who has spent three years alone on a deserted island that had been a resort hot spot before a hurricane left it in ruins. Left behind, Josh has created his own utopia with the help of a stack of Martha Stewart Living magazines he discovered at the resort.
Although he is content to live out his life on the island, he resorts to some unusual methods to cope with loneliness.
He soon has company after Matt (Farnsworth) abandons ship from a passing cruise liner and swims ashore. Josh looks inward for peace, while Matt wants only to get off the island.
"I'm glad I have T.J. on board because T.J. really connects with this script, and he connects with his character," Watts said.
Bowlin said he is eager for the chance to work with Rabushka (the play has been performed only one other time, in St. Louis) on a script that communicates to him.
"I think the metaphor of the show spoke to me a lot. The character of the play talks so much about finding yourself in the situation, where you can be what you want and love how you want and not worry about society," he said.
A year ago, Bowlin was very happy in his role as part of a progressive theater company in Norfolk, Va.
But his time with the Generic Theatre was short. He returned to Tulsa before his grandmother, Dayla Bowlin, died.
"I woke up one day and said I've got to go home, and that was it. I think it was more difficult when I hit on the reality that I'm actually losing this other life that I've created with these other wonderful people," he said.
He lamented leaving, but never regretted the decision.
"My heart belongs home right now."
And, it belongs on a stage. Known for his affable spirit and comic talent, Bowlin surprised many last year with his turn as a mass-murdering racist in Heller Theatre's "Coyote on the Fence."
Although Bowlin was fascinated by that character, he is equally intrigued by Josh's levity and need to reinvent himself.
Being in Tulsa, Bowlin said, has afforded him opportunities to play characters he wants, he said.
"I want to be on stage. I don't have to go to New York and fail just to be able to say, 'I'm in New York doing theater.' I'd rather be able to call my friends in New York and say, 'I'm doing a show -- are you?' No matter what, I want to be on stage because it's what I love, and I want to do new groundbreaking work."
And, he's always willing to take a risk for the chance at a big creative payoff.
"Take a chance at failing, because you're going to have a bigger reward if you succeed."
Theater
"A Love of Last Resort"
Who
Ragged Blade Productions presentation
When
8 p.m. Thursday-Saturday and Jan. 19-21
Where
Nightingale Theater, 1416 E. Fourth St.
Admission
$8
For more
583-8487 [As of February 2007, 633-8666] or go to www.nightingaletheater.com.
Note
Show is for a mature audience. Playwright Jerry Rabushka, who co-wrote "Love of Last Resort," will take part in a discussion of the work with the audience and cast following Friday evening's performance.