The Virginia Stage Company's presentation of Born Yesterday, which followed the season opener, Yasmina Reza's Art, is now set to close Nov. 12 in Norfolk. The play, a co-production with New York's Syracuse Stage, opened Oct. 22.

Born Yesterday by Garson Kanin follows a very dirty-dealing businessman who visits Washington to put money in some politicians' pockets. When his long-time fiancée proves to be a social embarrassment to him, he hires a newsreporter to teach her to be smart. But, as the reporter soon learns, she isn't as dumb as she seems, and he happens to fall in love with her.

The comedy enjoyed a healthy run of 1,642 performances in its initial run on Broadway back in 1946. It was also made into a film in 1950 starring Judy Holliday and William Holden, then again in 1993 with the now defunct couple, Melanie Griffith and Don Johnson. Kanin was better known for writing the films "Adam's Rib" and "Pat and Mike."

The rest of the season at VA Stage includes Charles Dickens' A Christmas Carol (Nov. 26-Dec. 24), Donald Marguiles' Dinner With Friends (Jan. 14 Feb. 4), Tom Dudzick's Over the Tavern (Feb. 18-March 11), and the musical revue Blues in the Night (March 25-April 15).

For tickets to shows at the VA Stage, call (757) 627-1234. Visit them online at www.vastage.com. -- by Ernio Hernandez