OB's Primary Stages Spreads Robertson's Nasty Little Secrets To June 14 | Playbill

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News OB's Primary Stages Spreads Robertson's Nasty Little Secrets To June 14 Wanna hear a not-so-Nasty Little Secret?

Wanna hear a not-so-Nasty Little Secret?

The current Off-Broadway revival of Lanie Robertson's Nasty Little Secrets has been extended to June 14, a week past its previous June 7 close. The drama, which began previews May 6 and opened May 20, had its New York premiere at Primary Stages in 1988.

Robertson, author of Lady Day At Emerson's Bar and Grill, based Secrets on the real life story of a witty gay playwright who got on fabulously in London social circles, despite his pronounced sexuality and effeminacy. Alas, he came to a bad end and became more famous -- and respected -- in death than in life.

No, it's not Oscar Wilde.

Nasty Little Secrets, like the film Prick Up Your Ears, tells of farceur Joe Orton and his relationship with lover, mentor (and ultimately, jealous murderer), Kenneth Halliwell. Orton's plays include Entertaining Mr. Sloane and Loot. Casey Childs, Primary Stages' artistic director, stages the drama, which features sets by William Barclay, costumes by Debra Stein, sound by David Van Tieghem, and lighting by Phil Monat. Bryan Clark, Craig Fols (Halliwell), Matthew Mabe (Orton) and David McCallum, of TV's "Man From U.N.C.L.E.," star .

Robertson's other works include the musical Stringbean, Alfred Stieglitz Loves O'Keeffe (which is also possibly NY-bound in 1999, with Stacey Keach and Margot Kidder) and Cannibal's Waltz.

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Two shows have already been chosen for Primary Stages upcoming season, its 14th.

According to spokesperson Karen Greco, Jeffrey Hatcher's Turn of the Screw and This Lime Tree Bower by Conor Mc p(author of the company's recent St. Nicholas), are already set, though dates have not been announced.

Turn of the Screw adapts Henry James' novella about a governess caring for two children in a lonely English manor. Soon they're haunted by the spirit of the previous caretaker, who was no Mary Poppins. Seduced by her valet, she drowned herself, an event followed shortly by the valet's own mysterious death.

Hatcher's other works include Three Viewings, Smash, about a millionaire socialist leaving his newlywed bride to start a revolution at a ladies' college, and the Titanic-themed Scotland Road. James' prose works include Daisy Miller: A Study and Washington Square, which was adapted by the Goetz's into The Heiress.

Also under consideration are John Henry Redwood's The Old Settler, and an evening of short plays by David Ives. Ives' All In The Timing was a big show for Primary Stages, and they also had success with its follow-up, Mere Mortals.

Primary Stages will also present an as-yet-unnamed solo performance on the Bosakowski stage.

Casey Childs serves as artistic director of Primary Stages, located at 354 West 45th St. in midtown Manhattan.

For tickets ($30-$35) and information on Primary Stages productions call (212) 333-4052.

-- By David Lefkowitz

 
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