Corin Redgrave was to have been The General From America at the Alley Theatre this spring, but scheduling conflicts in London will prevent Vanessa's sib from returning to the Houston venue where he created the role of the vicious warden in Not About Nightingales.

Redgrave received a Tony Award nomination for that part, but it was not the first time he appeared at the Alley. He and Vanessa, co-founders of the Moving Theatre, first arrived in Texas in 1996 with rotating productions of Anthony and Cleopatra and Julius Cesear. In 1999, Redgrave performed his one-man production of Oscar Wilde's "De Profundis" for the Alley's benefit.

The General From America, by Tony Award winner Richard Nelson (James Joyce's The Dead), tells the story of America's best-known traitor, General Benedict Arnold, who defected to the British side during the Revolutionary War. Nelson will direct the production, now set for the Alley's 2001-2002 season.

Replacing The General From America is George Bernard Shaw's comedy The Devil's Disciple. Also set during the Revolutionary War, The Devil's Disciple switches the identities of two men, soldier Dick Dudgeon and minister Anthony Anderson. All would be well as the minister discovers freedom and the solider, mortality as the British have plans to hang the preacher and are hanging him instead. Alley artistic director Gregory Boyd directs.

The Devil's Disciple will run Mary 18-June 17 in The General From America's stead. Patrons with single tickets wishing to exchange them can call (713) 228-8421. — By Christine Ehren