Braham Murray directs the U.S. premiere of O’Brien's play, which bows in New York as part of the Brits Off-Broadway Festival. Haunted is the work of Manchester's Royal Exchange Theatre. Performances will continue through Jan. 2, 2011. An official opening has been set for Dec. 8.

Blethyn ('night Mother, "Little Voice," "Secrets & Lies") stars as Mrs. Berry with Niall Buggy (Translations) as Mr. Berry and Beth Cooke in her New York stage debut as Hazel.

Here's how producers bill the work: "When a captivating young woman enters the life of the quixotic Mr. Berry, his desperation to ensure her return causes him to declare his wife dead and give away her clothes in exchange for elocution lessons. But as the very much alive Mrs. Berry searches for a reason for her rapidly diminishing wardrobe, Mr. Berry finds both his relationships under threat."

Haunted has production design by Simon Higlett, lighting design by Johanna Town, sound design by Pete Rice, video design by Jack James, original music by Akintayo Akinbode and fight direction by Renny Krupinski.

O'Brien's plays include A Pagan Place (Royal Court, London), Virginia (Haymarket London), Iphigenia (Crucible, Sheffield), Our Father (Almeida, London), Family Butchers (Magic Theatre, San Francisco) and Triptych (Southwark Playhouse, London). She is well known for her 1960 novel "Country Girls."

59E59 Theaters, at 59 E. 59th Street, is run by Elysabeth Kleinhans (artistic director) and Peter Tear (executive producer).

Tickets to Brits Off-Broadway are available by calling Ticket Central at (212) 279-4200 or online at 59E59.org.