The Real Thing, Tom Stoppard's Tony-winning look at love, in all its untidiness and unpredictability, closes Maryland's Olney Theatre Center for the Arts' fourth annual Potomac Theatre Festival, Sept. 30. Performances of the comedy drama began Aug. 28 for an opening night is Aug. 31. As of Sept. 27, tickets were still available for all remaining performances.

Richard Pilcher, who appeared at Olney earlier this year in The Rivals, stars as conflicted playwright Henry, and Kate Hampton plays free-spirited actress Annie, who stirs Henry's passions and emotional confusion.

Valerie Leonard (Charlotte), James Matthew Ryan (Max), Tyson Lien (Billy), Katharine Miles (Debbie) and Andrew William Smith (Brodie) round out the cast.

Potomac Theatre Project co-artistic director Cheryl Faraone directs the production, which is designed by Hallie Zieselman (scenic and lighting) and William Pucilowsky (costume).

The 1984 Tony winner for best play, The Real Thing was revived last year on Broadway, where it took home the Tony for best revival of a play. The production closes PTF's 2001 "British Invasion" season, which also featured Harold Pinter's The Homecoming, David Hare's Plenty and Katharine Berry Swartz's Blue Forest.

Tickets for The Real Thing are $15 to 34. The theatre is at 2001 Olney Sandy Spring Rd. For more information, call (301) 924-3400 or visit www.olneytheatre.org.

- by Diane Snyder