The California premiere of Escher's Hands by Seattle-based playwright Dawson Nichols, will close at the Lillian Theatre July 2. Michael Rainey directs the play which opened May 26.

Nichols said in a statement that his play was inspired by the ideas of M C Escher, who has written about mathematics and complex structures. "I wanted to do something about the dilemma of control and free will, and the act of writing brings that to the fore. With writing, when it gets away from you, that's when you know it's working. It's about relinquishing control."

Dawson's play is a tightly woven thriller with a central twist. It involves two writers, Gary and Sandy, who are forced to collaborate on a story. They come up with a tale about a prostitute and a pimp, characters who eventually insinuate themselves into their lives.

Escher's Hands was nominated for the New Play Award of the American Theatre Critics Association. Originally produced by Seattle's AHA! Theatre, the play was a commercial and critical success. The Seattle Times called it "a nifty maze of a play." Spoleto Today described it as "a sexy thriller" and an "intellectual romp."

Keith Allen, Bronwen Bonner-Davies, Stephen Butchko and Deirdre V. Lyons star. Lillian Theatre is located at 1076 N. Lillian Way in Hollywood. For tickets and information call (323) 655-TKTS.

-- By Willard Manus
Southern California Correspondent