The Laguna Playhouse started previews May 23 for its Southern California premiere production of Richard Dresser's Gun-Shy. Dresser's comedy targets marriage and debuted in the Humana Festival of the Actor's Theatre of Louisville. Opening May 25, Gun Shy runs through June 25 at Laguna's Moulton Theatre.

The season closer at the Laguna Playhouse, Gun-Shy is helmed by company executive director Richard Stein. The play deals with "marriage, divorce, infidelity, infertility, incompatibility, eternal love, household accidents and diets no one should try," according to production notes.

Gun Shy playwright Dresser premiered two other plays in the Humana Festival, Alone at the Beach and Below the Belt. His television credits include "The Days and Nights of Molly Dodd," "Bakersfield PD" and "Vietnam War Stories."

The cast of Gun-Shy includes Robert Lee Jacobs (Carter) who has appeared with numerous regional companies and sits on the Laguna Playhouse board; Tracy Lore (Evie) who is making her third appearance at the Playhouse after appearing in Working and Gunmetal Blues; Paul O'Brien (Duncan) who has been seen regionally and in New York on Broadway in Lincoln Center's Twelfth Night with Helen Hunt, as well as off Broadway in Woody Allen, David Mamet and Elaine May's Death Defying Acts, at the Manhattan Theatre Club and Circle in the Square; JD Roberto, returning to the Playhouse where he created the role of Picasso in this season's Picasso at the Lapin Agile; and Stacy Solodkin (Caitlin), last seen in The Master Builder at Pacific Resident Theatre following an eight month run in Speed the Plow at the Odyssey.

The creative team comprises set designer Don Gruber, costume designer Michael Pacciorini, lighting designer Paulie Jenkins and sound designer David Edwards. Tickets are $21 - $40. Laguna's Moulton Theatre is located at 606 Laguna Canyon Road, Laguna Beach CA. For information visit www.lagunaplayhouse.com. Tickets can be obtained by calling (949) 497 2787.

-- By Murdoch McBride