Timothy Mason's The Fiery Furnace will have its West Coast premiere at the Eclectic Company Theatre on July 7, directed by Judy Welden. The run is through Aug. 13 at the company's NoHo venue.

The play is set in a midwest farmhouse in the 50s when America was again at ease and life seemed to be merrily rolling along. Mason's happy family portrait, however, begins to disintegrate and as the years go by he peels away the layers of pretense until many ugly secrets are revealed.

Mason was for many years a company playwright with Circle Rep in New York, which produced several other works by him, including Babylon Gardens and Only You. He has won awards from the NEA, National Society of Arts and Letters, and the Berilla Kerr Foundation, among others. His credits include numerous plays and musicals for children and family audiences, including How the Grinch Stole Christmas an annual favorite at San Diego's Old Globe Theatre.

Eclectic Theatre Company is located at 5312 Laurel Canyon Blvd. in North Hollywood. For tickets and information call (818) 508-3003.

-- By Willard Manus
Southern California Correspondent