After a successful mounting at New Jersey's George Street Theatre, Anne Meara's second play, Down the Garden Paths, will open Jan. 26 in its second venue, Connecticut's Long Wharf Theatre. George Street artistic director David Saint, best known for helming Meara's After-Play across the country, directs the comedy which runs through Feb. 20.

The story of a family gathering to celebrate the latest novel by an award winning author, Down the Garden Paths will feature an on-film cameo by Meara's real-life husband, Jerry Stiller, playing Herschel Strange, a quantum physicist. Stiller and Meara's real-life daughter, Amy Stiller (Sharon Garden/Jodie Garden), is also in the show. And adding further to the show's familial undercurrent are true life couple Eli Wallach (Sid Garden) and Anne Jackson (Stella Dempsey Garden), joined by their daughter, Roberta Wallach (Claire Shayne/Claire Garden). Supporting cast members include Michael Countryman (Max Garden), Angela Pietropinto (Professor Cramer), John Procaccino (Arthur Garden) and Ann McDonough (Liz Garden).

Jackson and Wallach have appeared together in such shows as Twice Around the Park and the recent Tennessee Williams Remembered. The younger Wallach received a Drama Desk nomination for playing the hellishly unpleasant daughter in Donald Margulies' The Model Apartment.

Designing The Garden Paths at George Street are Michael Elliott (lighting, recently replacing Howell Binkley, who's busy on Minnelli on Minnelli), James Youmans (set), Chris Bailey (sound) and David Murin (costumes).

Tickets are $45-$10 and are available by calling the Long Wharf at (203) 787-4282. -- By Christine Ehren
and David Lefkowitz