John Patrick Shanley's comedy, Psychopathia Sexualis, which opened Feb. 26 at Manhattan Theatre Club, ends its scheduled run April 20 after 33 previews and 62 regular performances. Starring in the show are Andrew McCarthy, Margaret Colin, Edward Herrmann and Daniel Gerroll.
Citing "obligations for a pending television series" created for him, original star Jon Lovitz left the show and was replaced by Gerroll, most recently in Tony Walton's staging of The Importance Of Being Earnest for Irish Rep.
Psychopathia Sexualis, as defined by Manhattan Theatre Club executive producer Barry Grove, is "a very funny play about a man [McCarthy] who goes to visit a psychiatrist because he can't make love if he's not holding his father's Argyll socks." Curing this impotence has a certain urgency because he's altar-bound in a week.
McCarthy is best known as a film actor (The Breakfast Club, Heaven Help Us). Gerrroll has appeared on Broadway in The Homecoming and Plenty. Sexualis marks Gerroll's sixth show at Manhattan Theatre Club, the first being 1981's Translations.
The role of the shrink returned to the New York stage Herrmann, a Tony winner (for Mrs. Warren's Profession) and FDR impersonator of note. Rounding out the cast as the women in this manic antic are Park Overall from TV's "Empty Nest" as the bride-to-be, and Margaret Colin as her best friend.
Shanley's other writing credits include Missing/Kissing, Four Dogs And A Bone and Savage In Limbo. Sullivan's previous credits include Conversations With My Father, A Fair Country and the stage and film versions of The Substance Of Fire.
The revolving set for Psychopathia, by Derek McLane, encompasses a psychiatrist's office, loft space and Upper West Side apartment. Costumes for the play are by Jane Greenwood, lighting by Pat Collins.
Psychopathia Sexualis has been performed at Seattle Rep (March 1996) and at the Mark Taper Forum in Los Angeles. The play began previews Jan. 28. For tickets ($45) and information call (212) 581-1212.
-- By Harry Haun and David Lefkowitz
