‘Et in Arcadia ego’

Arcadia; 8 p.m. Thursday, Friday and Saturday and 2:30 p.m. Sunday; $10-$15. Big Idea Theatre, 1616 Del Paso Boulevard; (916) 960-3036; www.bigideatheatre.com. Through February 4.

Arcadia takes place in the sitting room of a posh English country house, both in the early 1800s and in the present day, with the story switching between time periods in each scene. The bridge between the two eras is a pair of modern-day scholars and the house’s current aristocratic residents, all trying to unravel historic, literary and mathematical mysteries. The thread that binds all the characters, past and present, is a thirst for knowledge and understanding that may prove to be insatiable.

As this description indicates, Big Idea Theatre has taken on a big challenge with this show, and the company delivers an impressive and entertaining production.

Director Benjamin T. Ismail marries the dense script with a talented cast, careful to keep their well-coached English accents understandable, the staging simple and the performances compelling. It’s a complicated play that needs a light, controlled touch, which Ismail has, and thoughtful, skilled performances, which the cast provides including Josephine Longo as Thomasina, Joshua Glenn Robertson as Septimus, Eric Baldwin as Bernard, Alison Whismore as Lady Croom, Jouni Kirjola as Ezra, Beth Edwards as Hannah, Gina Williams as Chloe, and Dan Featherson as Valentine.

Though sometimes Stoppard can seem a bit off-putting in Arcadia, with his piling on of plot and philosophical ponderings, he is never predictable or boring; his writing is always sharp and clever. Thus the reward is a fascinating night of theater and days of reflection afterwards.