In "A Separate Peace," the World War I-era novel by John Knowles, young Gene causes the death of his best friend, Phineas. For writer-performer Brian Foyster, this means killing himself as he presents a one-man adaptation of the novel May 22-June 27 at the Hudson Guild Theatre. Jason McConnell Buzas directs.

Set in a boy's school modeled on Exeter, "A Separate Peace" follows the maturation of Gene as his friends and life change around him. He admires and tries to be like his best friend Phineas, called Finny, while they both watch another boy companion go off to war, only to return a haunted man.

Foyster, a lifetime member of the Actor's Studio, has acted under the direction of Paul Newman and Norman Mailer. Upcoming film appearances include the lead in "The Moon, The Stars and Everything" for Lakeshore Entertainment and Paramount Pictures.

Buzas directed David Ives' Off-Broadway hit, All in the Timing and will direct his premiere Polish Joke at the Ojai Festival in summer 2000. Other credits include the one man shows, Bigfoot Stole My Wife, Pillow Talk, The Job Search and The Prevalence of Mrs. Seal with Frances Sternhagen.

Tickets are $8. The Hudscon Guild Theatre is located at 6543 Santa Monica Boulevard. For reservations, call (213) 368-9505. -- By Christine Ehren