Charles Higham, who has written biographies of Katharine Hepburn and the Duchess of Windsor, has penned a new play, a fictional look at a repressive Roman Catholic family in England, circa 1940.

Joen Nielsen Lewis directs Vicious Circle, opening Apr. 23 for a run through May 29 at the Bitter Truth and Sweet Lies Theatre in North Hollywood.

Helen Duffy, Micky Crocker, Julie Sanford, Trish Haight, Julia Leigh Miller and Steve Cassidy star in the dark comedy, wherein an ex-nun accused of murder "returns to complete her act of revenge."

Recent plays at Bitter Truth have included King of the City: An Evening With Al Capone, Cracks in a Sidewalk and La Chasse. Chaim's Love Song continues to run on weekends, as does Voices From The Holy And Not-So-Holy Land. Friday nights in April, the theatre has been running the comedy evening, "Heidi Joyce's Two Comic Minimum."

For tickets ($15-$12) and information on Vicious Circle at the Bitter Truth and Sweet Lies Theatre, 11050 Magnolia Blvd., call (818) 755-7900. -- By David Lefkowitz