Negotiations are underway for Neil Simon's latest, The Dinner Party, to have its world premiere in London, following a Jan. 27 reading at L.A.'s Mark Taper Forum and a London reading on Feb. 10, 1999. Simon's agent, Gary Da Silva told PBOL (Jan. 22) that a London premiere was definitely being talked about but, since the play hasn't yet had a staged reading, nothing's been confirmed.

For the past few years, Simon has turned to Off-Broadway mountings and regional engagements to premiere his latest work. The West End seems like a natural option for the veteran playwright. In March, his 1971 play, Prisoner of Second Avenue will make its West End premiere, starring Richard Dreyfuss and Marsha Mason.

Simon's last new play to bow on Broadway was last season's disappointing Proposals which closed after only 11 previews and 76 regular performances at Broadway's Broadhurst Theatre, having one of the shortest runs ever for a Neil Simon play on Broadway. Only Fools (1981) had a shorter run, with 40 performances.