Oscar winner Ernest Thompson's Penis Responds, a collection of twelve comic short plays on the male organ, comes to a close June 10 at Off-Off-Broadway's Blue Heron Arts Center. Performances began May 25. Thompson also directs.
With only himself and Richard Gilliland on stage, Thompson will tackle the ups and downs (both literal and figurative) that come with being that used and misused piece of male anatomy.
Thompson won an Academy Award for "On Golden Pond" and will direct Julie Andrews in the Fall 2000 Showtime adaptation of "Pond." Other credits include the screenplays to "1969" and "Sweet Hearts Dance" and the teleplays "The West Side Waltz" (based on his play) and "Take Me Home Again." As an actor he appeared on Broadway opposite Alexis Smith in Summer Brave and in the films "Next Stop Wonderland" and "Star 80."
Gilliland's stage credits include Little Egypt at Playwrights Horizons, Love Letters, Beyond Therapy and Cops. Among his television and films roles, he had a recurring role as "J.S. Shackelford" on the series, "Designing Women."
Tickets are $40-$30. The Blue Heron Arts Center is located at 123 East 24th Street. For tickets, call (212) 279-4200. -- By Christine Ehren