Directed by Ayckbourn and Tim Luscombe as part of the Brits Off-Broadway festival, the plays, presented in rep, come direct from a sold-out run at Sir Alan's Stephen Joseph Theatre in Scarborough, England. Previews began at 59E59 May 31. "Intimate Exchanges is an extraordinary theatrical event, where one character's dilemma — to smoke or not to smoke — kicks off eight separate plays with 16 different endings," according to production notes. "These eight plays can be seen in any order and the endings depend on what decisions the characters make during the play."

All eight plays feature two actors, Bill Champion and Claudia Elmhirst, who play a community of different characters.

The engagement continues to July 1.

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At left (from top): Bill Champion and Claudia Elmhirst; Adam James and Susannah Wise; Tom Ferguson and Bill Champion; and Penny Fuller and Jim Dale.

Below: Carolyn Meehan, Barbara Strouse, Thomas Meehan, Charles Strouse at the opening-night party for Intimate Exchanges.

photos by Aubrey Reuben