1999 Tony Award winner Frank Wood and Long Wharf regular Jefferson Mays co-star as Rosencrantz and Guildenstern — or is it Guildenstern and Rosencrantz? — in Tom Stoppard's classic puzzler, Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead, opening May 2 on the Long Wharf Mainstage. Obie winner Edward Hibbert (Gross Indecency, The Green Bird) joins them as the Player. Darko Tresnjak (OB's More Lies About Jerzy) directs.

Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead is a typically twisting Stoppard comedy using two of Hamlet's minor characters as a launching pad for comical contemplations of the universe. The two existential heroes never really know who they are or why they are there, but they whittle away their time playing verbal tennis and other intellectual games before meeting their ultimate fate. Rosencrantz and Guildenstern was made into a film in 1990 with Tim Roth and Gary Oldman in the title roles.

Also in the cast are Jack Ferver (Alfred), David Hornsby (Hamlet), Ann Mahoney (Ophelia), Gregor Paslawsky (Polonius), Thomas Schall (Claudius) and Sandra Shipley (Gertrude). The band of players are Stan Bayley, Kenajuan Bentley, David Furr, Aaron Jafferis and Jon Asa Walker.

Designing the Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are David P. Gordon (sets), Linda Cho (costumes), Christopher J. Landy (lights) and Matthew Mezick (sound). Kevin E. Thompson is the production stage manager.

Performances run through June 3. Tickets are $45-$15. For reservations, call (203) 787-4282. The Long Wharf Theatre is on the web at http://www.longwharf.org. — By Christine Ehren