LOS ANGELES -- Developed at Midwest Labs, winner of the prestigious Stanley Award, The Job had its world premiere recently at the Hudson Guild in Hollywood.

Written and directed by Shem Bitterman, the play "is a dark comedy about a washed-up con man and his attempts to go straight, only to have his efforts thwarted by his new friends and his old enemies," said a company spokesperson.

The Hudson Guild, under the leadership of artistic director Jack Stehlin and producing director Jeannine Welles, is entering its fourth season in residence at the Guild.The Job is the company's first production of an original play. It will run through Dec. 19.

"This all came together at the right time," said Stehlin, who also appears in the cast, along with Robert Cocchini, Barry Cullison, Deborah Offner and Daniel Nathan Spector. "We've been looking for an exciting new play to do that has the classic elements of great storytelling. Shem and I have known each other for a long time, and when our schedules connected, we decided to do The Job."

Stehlin and Bitterman were classmates at The Juilliard School. Among Bitterman's previous play are Survivors and Buffalo Hunters.

The Hudson Guild is at 6543 Santa Monica Blvd. Call (323) 660-TKTS.

-- By Willard Manus
Southern California Correspondent