Peter Frechette and Reg Rogers turn on The Dazzle on March 5 when they officially open in the New York debut of the three-person drama by Richard Greenberg. Previews of the Roundabout Theatre Company staging began Feb. 15 at the Gramercy Theatre. Francie Swift co-stars. David Warren directs the trio, as he did in an earlier production at New York Stage and Film, July 26-Aug. 5, 2000.

Early word has been good on The Dazzle, which concerns the eccentric, real-life Collyer brothers, Langley and Homer, a successful pianist and his equally wealthy brother who live in isolation in the East Harlem home until they bring a beautiful young socialite home one night. Greenberg has gone on the record that the work is more a flight of fancy than a historical treatment of the siblings. In the Playbill for the show, an author's note reads: "The Dazzle is based on the lives of the Collyer brothers, about whom I know almost nothing."

Both Frechette and Rogers appeared in Greenberg's Hurrah at Last (also at the Gramercy), seen in New York in 1999, but not at the same time. Frechette opened the play as a hyperneurotic, strung-out novelist. When Frechette left, Rogers replaced him in the role. Warren directed both actors in the show.

Warren also directed Frechette in Greenberg's Night and Her Stars, and Frechette was seen in the playwright's Eastern Standard. Warren is perhaps best known as Nicky Silver's director of choice, though he has also directed revivals of works by Shaw and Barry on Broadway and off.

Greenberg is also the author of The Extra Man, Night and Her Stars, Three Days of Rain, Hurrah at Last and South Coast Rep's 2000 entry, Everett Beekin. His Take Me Out is expected at London's Donmar Warehouse this spring, and then at the Public Theater next season. —By Robert Simonson