Two new and different versions of Two Men Lost in the Dirty Night, the famous Brazilian play by Plinio Marcos performed for the first time in 1967, are scheduled to open in 1998.

Paco, a man resigned to his own delinquency and his friend Tonho, a man who still dreams of getting an honest job to improve his miserable life, are the tragic characters of the play.

The script, which remains as much contemporary and universal as it was in the 1960´s, returns after thirty years in two versions: the Brazilian version, directed by Luiz Fernando Lobo and starring Andre Valli; and the French version directed by Jean Luc Moisson, translated by Thierry Tremouroux.

The Brazilian version opens in Rio de Janeiro in January 1998. According to its director, the script has become stronger than the original 1967´s version and explains.."if in the sixty´s it had a political context, now it tends to be social revelation. . ."

The production also marks the reunion between director Luiz Fernando Lobo and actor Andre Valli who worked together in The Neighbour´s Wife (A Mulher do Proximo). Both are delighted with Plinio Marcos´script and say.."It´s our favourite because it is simple, exciting and is dramatically perfect." The projected French version promises to become reality in September 1998 when it will be performed first in Paris. Director Jean Luc Moisson declares he always wanted to bring the script to France where the unemployment question and the violence, like in Brazil, have become very serious and people are obliged to live on the periphery of cities because they don´t have the money to sustain themselves.

Information about cast, times and performances will be announced soon.

--By Nertutila Achao

Brazil Correspondent