LONG BEACH, CA -- Last Chance to catch L.A. Jewish Theatre's world premiere of Gift of God, an existential romance by Richard Freedman that opened May 1 at the Actors Playhouse. Cecilia Fannon is the director.

The show was supposed to run to May 31 but was been extended a week, to June 7, "due to positive critical and audience response."

Freedman said the Abraham and Isaac story is one that has always fascinated him -- especially where it concerns issues of love and trust. "It's a very difficult story to get around. A new interpretation of Genesis had just been published and I was reading it at the same time that I was developing a romantic comedy. Suddenly I realized I had the perfect vehicle to explore my thoughts on the nature of sacrifice."

Freedman won the Lawrence and Lee Playwriting Award for his full-length work Overdue.

Gift of God is the first production of L.A. Jewish Theatre to be staged at the Actor's Playhouse. The group was started in 1995 as part of the Latin American Jewish Association, by Jorge Albertella and Marcello It later split off and began holding readings of plays three times a year. In 1997 the company mounted its first fully staged production at a theatre in Hollywood. Performances are Fri. and Sat. at 8 PM and Sun. at 2 PM at the Actor's Playhouse, l409 E. Fourth St. For tickets, $15, call (213) 660-8587.

-- By Willard Manus
Southern California Correspondent