A private reading of a new screwball comedy, Dangerous Gift, was held Feb. 26 at Off-Broadway's Westside Theatre. Producer and publicist Jeffrey Richards presented the piece by playwright Heather Bucha. A zany affair about "theatrical ambition, matrimonial desire, museum curating, family secrets, parakeets and pygmies," Gift had a star studded reading cast, including Julianna Margulies, Robert Sean Leonard, Jennifer Dundas, George Demas, Gina Gershon and Frank Whaley, with the latter directing. Richards said the reading was a preliminary, private event "simply to hear the play done."
"The reception was very favorable," he added, "and a considerable amount of interest was generated." No word as of now on the next step for the piece.
— By David Lefkowitz
