After years of playing telepathic Deanna Troi in the television series, "Star Trek Next Generation" and the subsequent films based on the series, actress Marina Sirtis stars in Walnut Street Theatre's new collection of one-acts, Hotel Suite, beginning previews Jan. 12, for a Jan. 20- Feb. 28 1999 run at the Philadelphia venue.
Playwright Neil Simon has raided and reconstructed his own material to come up with Hotel Suite. The play is composed of four scenes collected from Simon's Plaza Suite (1968), California Suite (1976) and London Suite (1995).
Simon came up with the idea for the evening a couple years ago, according to Walnut Street publicist Maria Sticco. The dramatist planned to stage it in London but gave up on the project when he "couldn't cast it" properly. A version was presented at the 1997 Chichester Festival.
Hotel Suite's four scenes, are, in order: Visitors from London from California Suite, about an Oscar-nominated, English actress and her husband; Visitor from Philadelphia, also from California Suite, about a couple from Philly, one of whom wakes up with a stranger; Diana and Sydney from London Suite, a second look at the English couple of the first scene; and Visitor from Mamaroneck from Plaza Suite, about a bride with pre-wedding jitters. Charles Abbott will direct the show.
Sirtis is best known for playing psychic counselor Deanna Troi, on TV's "Star Trek: The Next Generation," and in the films "Star Trek: Generations," "Star Trek: First Contact," and "Star Trek: Insurrection." Sirtis made her American stage debut in 1996 as Nurse Fay in Joe Orton's Loot at Hartford Stage Company. Robert Ari (June Moon ), Marina Sirtis ("Star Trek: The Next Generation") and Reed Birney (Gemini , Mac Wellman's Seven Blowjobs ), also headline Simon's new collection of one-acts, alongside Evalyn Baron, Megan Bellwoar and Marc O'Donnell.
For tickets ($8 - $40) or more information, call (215) 574-3550.
-- By Sean McGrath
