Hope Alexander, Rene Augesen, Kandis Chappell, Richard Doyle, Linda Gehringer and Nicholas Hormann are the featured players in South Coast Rep's production of Edward Albee's A Delicate Balance, which runs Jan. 5-Feb. 11, 2001, directed by Martin Benson.

The design team is Tony Buderwitz (sets), Walter Hicklin (costumes), Tom Ruziks (lights) and B.C. Keller (sound design). Randall K. Lum is stage manager.

Albee's 1967 Pulitzer winner, a complex drama about the human psyche, is a study of Tobias (Hormann) and Agnes (Gehringer), a married couple whose life has become humdrum and routine. Things begin to change when they receive a series of visits, first from Agnes' sister (Chappell), then by their daughter (Augesen), who returns home after the break-up of her fourth marriage. Next is the arrival of two of their best friends (Alexander and Doyle), who have just experienced a strange, unidentifiable terror. Suddenly, as Tobias and Agnes feel the rigid structure of their lives beginning to wobble, they discover that the balance between sanity and madness is very delicate indeed.

Albee also won Pulitzer Prizes for Three Tall Women and Seascape. He has authored ten plays, the latest of which, The Play About the Baby will open in New York in 2001.

Benson shares co-founder credit and artistic leadership of SCR with David Emmes. He has directed nearly one third of the plays produced at SCR in the last 37 years. Recently he directed the world premiere of Margaret Edson's Wit. South Coast Repertory is located at 655 Town Center Drive. For tickets and information call (714) 708-5555.