After a 30-year wait and attempts to get the comedy staged, Jim Inman's Appearances to the Contrary, opens a world-premiere run Oct. 14 at Los Angeles' Gascon Center Theatre. Susan Clark essays the lead role of a fortysomething closeted lesbian literary agent.

Clark starred on the TV series "Webster" as Katherine Calder-Young Papadapolis. An Emmy Award winner for 1975's "Babe," she was also nominated for the 1976 TV special, "Amelia Earhart." Other recent work includes playing Tonya Harding's mother LaVona in "Tonya & Nancy: The Inside Story" and Elizabeth Murray on the TV series "Emily of New Moon."

In Appearances to the Contrary, four characters — the aforementioned agent, a quiet attorney, an insecure but sexually attractive playwright and a beautiful woman — slowly disintegrate in the course of an evening, revealing more truths about themselves than they intend. Inman is the author of One Weekend Night at Only's, Direct Communication, Sweet Talk and A Couple of Turns Around the Block.

Gerald Castillo, L.A. Drama Critics Award-winner for The Goldfish Bowl, directs. Along with Clark, his cast features Benjamin Burdick (TV's "Born Free"), Precious Chong and Jay Richardson.

Douglas D. Smith is the production designer with costumes by Barbara Inglehart and sound design by Edward Salas. Performances began Oct. 12 for a run through Nov. 19.

Tickets are $15-$20. The Gascon Center Theatre is located at 8739 Washington Boulevard in Culver City. For reservations, call (310) 289-2999.

— By Christine Ehren