Last Chance to catch the Northwest Premiere of Patrick Marber's icy comedy Dealer's Choice, playing to May 9 at Seattle's Empty Space Theater. Performances began April 9 for an official opening April 14.

In Dealer's Choice, Stephen, Mugsy, Sweeney, Frankie and Carl meet for their weekly poker game in the basement of Stephen's restaurant. When Ash, a professional gambler, wants his due, the friendly card game takes an unexpected turn -- especially when the health and well-being of the restaurant owner's son is threatened.

Presented by London's Royal National Theatre in 1995, the show won the London Evening Standard Award, the Writers Guild of Great Britain Award, and a Laurence Olivier Award Nomination. The play was also presented in July 1996 as part of the Alliance Theatre's Arts Festival in Atlanta to coincide with the Olympics. An Off-Broadway mounting featured a pre Ah, Wilderness! Sam Trammell.

Marber is currently represented on Broadway with the opening of his new play,Closer, March 25 at the Music Box Theatre. Directed by Marber, Closer won the 1997 Time Out Award for Best Play in the West End, the 1997 Evening Standard Best Comedy Award, the 1997 Critics Circle Best Play Award and the 1998 Laurence Olivier Award for Best New Play.

Empty Space's associate artistic director Rod Pilloud (Barrymore's Ghost) directs Ian Bell (Mugsy), John Bogar (Frankie), Daniel J. Chercover (Carl), Colby Chester (Stephen), Timothy Hyland (Sweeney) and Mikel MacDonald (Ash). Designing Choice are John Petterson (sets), Nanette Acosta (costumes) and Michael Wellborn (lighting).

Tickets are $25-$14 and available by calling the box office at (206) 547 7500. Empty Space in on the web at http://www.emptyspace.org. The Empty Space Theatre is located at 3509 Fremont North.

-- By Christine Ehren and Robert Viagas