Joe Dowling, former artistic director of The Abbey Theatre in Dublin, current artistic director of Minnesota's Guthrie Theatre, is returning to Broadway to direct Brian Bedford in a 19th-century comedy of manners London Assurance, at the Roundabout Theatre, opening April 30.

Assurance marks a break in Dowling's Broadway directing trend, as his previous Broadway credits have been mostly Irish-themed; Sean O'Casey's Juno and the Paycock, and Brian Friel's Philadelphia, Here I Come.

The comedy, by Dion L. Boucicault, will begin previews April 16, and close July 6.

Bedford made his Broadway debut in Five Finger Exercise and has appeared in Two Shakespearean Actors, School For Wives and The Moliere Comedies. Also starring will be Christopher Evan Welch, currently appearing as Bill Irwin's sidekick in the Roundabout's Off Broadway Scapin. Co-star Kathryn Meisle appeared opposite Raul Julia in the Public Theatre's 1991 Othello.

Sets for the show are by Derek McLane, costumes by Catherine Zuber, lighting by Marc B. Weiss and sound by Mark Bennett.