Patrons of the Alley Theatre in Houston can get Closer in the company's Neuhaus Arena Stage Oct. 20-Nov. 19. Patrick Marber's vicious tale of modern sex and love opens the smaller stage's 2000-2001 season.

London's Stephen Rayne (Hay Fever, Civil War on tour) directs this dissection of the emotional lives of four Londoners as they use and abuse one another in a series of merry-go-round relationships. Nominated for a Tony Award for Best Play, Closer opened on Broadway March 25, 1999 at the Music Box Theatre. The show was selected as Best Foreign Play by the New York Drama Critics Circle and won London's 1998 Olivier Award for Best Play.

Marber, who directed the London and Broadway companies of Closer, is also the author of Dealer's Choice.

Starring in the Alley production will be Towards Zero and Hay Fever's Michelle Federer as Alice, the stripper with the strange scars. Also in the cast are John Wojda as Dan, the writer, Russ Anderson as Larry, the doctor and Jenna Stern as Anna, the photographer role played on Broadway by Natasha Richardson and Polly Draper.

Designing the show are Kevin Rigdon (sets), Michael Lincoln (lighting), Esther Marquis (costumes) and Malcolm Nicholls (sound). Tickets are $42-$37 and are available by calling the Alley box office at (713) 228-9341 ext. 350. The Alley Theatre is on the web at http://www.alleytheatre.com.