Keith Allen, Bronwen Bonner-Davies, Stephen Butchko and Deirdre V. Lyons star in the California premiere of Escher's Hands by Seattle-based playwright Dawson Nichols. Michael Rainey directs the play for a May 26 opening at the Lillian Theatre. Previews begin May 25 for a run through July 2.

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."

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