Ken Rus Schmoll — who directed the world premiere at New York's P.S. 122 — returns to stage the "mature audience" drama which begins Nov. 30 at Long Wharf Theatre’s Stage II and opens Dec. 7 for a run through Jan. 1, 2006.

"Ripped from the headlines, Aphrodisiac... demonstrate[s] the truth is never black and white, and the aftermath reaches much farther than the steps of Capitol Hill," according to show materials. In the work, a fallen politician's rationale is explored through the eyes of his son and daughter — who are coming to terms with their father's newfound infamy.

Original Off-Broadway star Jennifer Dundas (Arcadia, As You Like It) will reprise her role opposite Rob Campbell (Small Tragedy, Hamlet) and Yetta Gottesman (The Last Days of Judas Iscariot, Where's My Money).

The design team features Sue Rees (set), Michelle R. Phillips (costumes), Garin Marschall (lighting) and Bray Poor (sound).

Handel is a founder of the Obie Award-winning playwright group, 13P (Thirteen Playwrights, Inc.). His plays include The Exploding Hotel (The Royal Court Theatre "Hot From America" Series, London), Millicent Scowlworthy (O'Neill Playwrights Conference) and Being Difficult (Soho Rep Writer/Director Lab). 13P is a collective comprised of young scribes also including Sheila Callaghan, Erin Courtney, Madeleine George, Ann Marie Healy, Julia Jarcho, Young Jean Lee, Winter Miller, Sarah Ruhl, Kate E. Ryan, Lucy Thurber, Anne Washburn and Gary Winter. (The group is on the web at www.13p.org.)

Long Wharf will continue its season with Noel Coward's Private Lives (Jan. 11 Feb. 5, 2006), the Steppenwolf Theatre's after the quake by Frank Galati (Feb. 22-March 19, 2006), Ben Hecht and Charles MacArthur's The Front Page (April 5-30, 2006) and Glen Berger's Underneath The Lintel (May 10-June 11, 2006).

Tickets for Aphrodisiac at Long Wharf Theatre, 222 Sargent Drive, are available for purchase by calling (203) 787-4282 or toll-free at (800) 782-8497 and online at www.LongWharf.org.