The Cape Playhouse of Dennis, MA -- one of the oldest and last of the New England summer stock theatres -- will close its production of Jeff Baron's comedy, Visiting Mr. Green, as scheduled on July 29. The show began performances on July 17.
In Mr. Green, the title character, an elderly, retired gentleman is run down by 29-year-old gay executive, Ross Gardiner. As punishment, Gardiner is forced to serve community service with the old man for six months. In that time, the two move from comically hating one another to a deep and loving friendship.
The work premiered in New York City a couple seasons back, with Eli Wallach in the title role. It has since become a popular staple for regional theatres nationwide.
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Sharon Gless has bowed out of the Aug. 14-26 staging of The Lion in Winter at the Cape Playhouse of Dennis, MA. The "Cagney & Lacey" star was recently cast in the new cable series "Queer as Folk" (based on the controversial English program), and filming will preclude her honoring her Cape commitment. Taking her place in the James Goldman play is Dee Hoty. Still is the cast is Randall Duk Kim, as Henry II, King of England. Kim's recent theatre credits include David Henry Hwang's Golden Child on Broadway and A Majority of One Off-Broadway.
Hoty has been nominated for a Tony for The Best Little Whorehouse Goes Public, The Will Rogers Follies and Footloose, her most recent credit.
The schedule runs as follows:
• The Will Rogers Follies, July 31-Aug. 12
• The Lion in Winter by James Goldman, Aug. 14-26
• Radio Gals, by Mike Craver and Mark Hardwick, Aug. 28-Sept. 9
2000 marks new Cape Playhouse artistic director Evans Haile's first season. Haile conceived and staged 1995's Yes, There Were Giants and 1999's Broadway's Best Sing Gershwin, seen at both the Cape and Ogunquit Playhouses. The Dennis theatre was founded in 1927.
For more information, call (508) 385-3911.
-- By Robert Simonson
