Polly Pen's award-winning "silent movie opera" Bed and Sofa closes its West Coast premiere June 4 at Los Angeles' International City Theatre. caryn morse desai [sic] directs. Perfomances began May 12.

Based on a 1926 Abram Room silent film, Bed And Sofa revolves around the relationships of two men and a woman in Stalinist Russia. Ludmilla, the housewife, and her husband, Nikolai open their home to Volodya when a housing shortage leaves him without a place to live. The housing situation complicates, however, as Ludmilla takes Volodya as her lover and the three exchange sleeping arrangements on the bed and the sofa.

Composed by Pen with a libretto by Laurence Klavan, Bed and Sofa premiered Off-Broadway at the Vineyard Theatre in January, 1996. The musical, often compared to a modern chamber opera, won two Obie Awards, including Distinguished Music, and seven Drama Desk Award nominations.

Scott Dicken, Tim Maloney and Tricia O'Connell star. O'Connell has toured extensively with Ken Hill's Phantom of the Opera (Christine), Cats, Evita and A LIttle Night Music.

Designing the show are Bradley Kaye (sets), Paulie Jenkins (lighting) and Shon LeBlanc (costumes). Janet Roston is the choreographer. Tickets are $35-$25. The Center Theater is located in the Long Beach Performing Arts Cetner at 300 East Ocean Boulevard. For reservations, call (562) 436-4610.

Upcoming at the International City Theatre is Matthew Witten's The Deal (June 23-July 16), Joe Orton's Loot (Sept. 1-24) and the West Coast premiere of the Roger and Hart retrospective, Beguiled Again (Nov. 10-Dec. 10).

-- By Christine Ehren