Since early September, the troupe has been burdened with the two biggest hits in its history, Arthur Schnitzler's Far and Wide (Das weite Land) and D.H. Lawrence's The Daughter-in-Law. The latter opened on June 7 in the theatre's fifth floor space at 311 W. 43rd Street. The Schnitzler, meanwhile, was a hit when it bowed last January—so much so that the Mint brought it back for a Sept. 10-Oct. 26 return engagement, lodging it in the building's third floor theatre—usually home to The Directors Company.

Far and Wide is so popular it will now graduate to an open run. However, the extension necessitates the closing of Daughter-in Law, since The Directors Company needs its third floor digs back for an upcoming production of Joyce Carol Oates' Bad Girls. Thus, Far and Wide moves two floors up, and the Lawrence play moves out on Oct. 26.

Far and Wide (Das weite Land) was produced all over Europe when it debuted in 1911, though the play has never been seen in New York City. The story is a satirical look at Viennese society. At the center is the couple of Freidrich and Genia — she devoted to her husband, he a philanderer. Their conflict leads to the death of another man.

Mint artistic director Jonathan Bank has adapted the work and directs. The new cast features Kate Arrington, Kelley AuCoin, Ezra Barnes, Lisa Bostnar, Lee Bryant, Anne-Marie Cusson, Joshua Decker, Kurt Everhart, Katie Firth, Ken Kliban, Peter Reznikoff, Hans Tester and Matthew Wilkas. 

Tickets for Far and Wide are $45. For information call (212) 315 0231.