Back in November 1997, the word-of-mouth success and good reviews given the Off-Off-Broadway drama, Bedfellows, led to speculation that the BAT Theatre's production would soon move to a larger theatre. A New York Times review that raved about the first act but expressed reservations about the second put a temporary damper on those plans, but now the word is that Bedfellows will come to Broadway early next season.

A source close to the production told Playbill On-Line (Mar. 13) the time frame seems to be Sept.-Oct., at an intimate Broadway house. The source also said the BAT Theatre and director Jim Simpson have been holding talks with Harry Belafonte to star, though his involvement is "possible but not definite." Singing star Belafonte ("The Banana Boat Song," "Matilda") was a co-producer of the 1969 show, To Be Young, Gifted And Black.

Alexander H. Cohen, busy readying The Herbal Bed for Broadway, reportedly will produce the piece by Herman Daniel Farrell III -- son of NY Assemblyman Herman "Denny" Farrell. Cohen had not returned phone calls for confirmation as of press time.

Jim Simpson's direction of the fast-moving piece received especially strong praise from the New York critics when the show, about behind-the scenes political maneuvering, played at the tiny Flea Theatre on White St., Oct. 10-Nov. 2.

Appearing in the show at the Flea downtown were Brian Clark, Reed Birney, Gerry Bamman (Nixon in Nixon's Nixon, which was directed by Simpson), Richard Davidson, Peter J. Fernandez, Alice Haining, Mike Hodge, Lazar Perez, Saundra Santiago, Peggy Schaditch, Phyllis Sommerville, Karl Wiedergott and Damian Young. -- By David Lefkowitz