Actors ready to make a splash

The lead actors in the upcoming South Coast Repertory play “Goldfish” have a lot in common.

Both Kate Rylie, who plays Lucy, a witty, intelligent college girl, and Tasso Feldman, who plays Albert, a reticent 19-year-old wise beyond his years, are 25 years old.

The two young actors, whose characters fall in love in the play, also share a love of jazz and were surprised to learn they lived just a few blocks from each other in Los Angeles when they were both cast in the comedy at South Coast Repertory.

“The acting world is a village, and we have a number of different people we both know,” Feldman said. “Coming in to this, I think we both call the other people to get the dirt on each other.”

Written by critically acclaimed playwright John Kolvenbach, “Goldfish” is the story of two college kids who fall in love, and the complications their dysfunctional relationships with their parents cause in the romance. The play was commissioned by South Coast Repertory and will make its world debut in Costa Mesa later this month.

Rylie and Feldman carpool to “Goldfish” rehearsals most days, taking the 405 Freeway to Costa Mesa each morning.

“We spend an hour each way every day getting to know each other. We’re playing two characters who become very intimate and who deeply, deeply love each other,” Feldman said. “To play that, I think it’s better to know more about another person rather than know less. The more intimate, the more you trust each other and you can go further — all of the sudden your comfort level becomes much better.”

Sharing rides to South Coast Repertory has perks outside of the carpool lane, Rylie said.

“We hang out and listen to music together,” Rylie said. “By the time we’re at rehearsal, we already have a relationship going.”

The play is a big break for both performers, who clamored for the chance to perform in the world-premiere of an original play at the prestigious South Coast Repertory.

“When I first read this script, I fell in love with it,” said Rylie, who quit the production of another play in Los Angeles to join the cast of “Goldfish.” “I called my mom and said, ‘This is my part; if this isn’t it, I don’t know what it could ever be.’ I think John Kolvenbach is a bit of genius. I feel like the luckiest girl on the planet to work on this.”

It was the play’s realistic dialogue that touched her, she said.

“The language is so real without being naturalistic,” Rylie said. “It sounds like something you would hear in life. It’s heightened reality, yet it’s so real.”

Feldman has been in numerous stage productions, including a lot of Shakespeare. He’s played Lysander in “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” and Mercutio in “Romeo and Juliet.”

“Coming from Shakespeare to this has been interesting,” Feldman said. “I guess I’ve never worked on a world premiere before. Bringing that part to life for the first time is really exciting.”

IF YOU GO

WHAT: “Goldfish”

WHERE: South Coast Repertory

WHEN: Low-priced preview performances are available from March 15 to 19. Performances begin March 15 and continue through April 5.

COST: Ticket prices range from $20 to $64.

INFO: Tickets can be purchased at www.scr.org, (714) 708-5555 or the box office at 655 Town Center Drive in Costa Mesa.

Reporter BRIANNA BAILEY may be reached at (714) 966-4625 or at [email protected].