Banned until 1936, British actor, director and playwright Harley Granville Barker's Waste, an election time drama set against a Tory candidate's abortion scandal, was too much for England's Lord Chamberlain, who forbade the 1907 production of the drama at London's Court Theatre. For the next thirty years, the play was revised again and again until the 1930's saw the first public performance at the Westminster Theatre, directed by Barker and Michael MacOwen.

While the play has since been revived by the Royal Shakespeare Company and Canada's Shaw Festival, the United States has never hosted the British Waste. Bartlett Sher, artistic director of Seattle's Intiman Theatre, directs the U.S. premiere, opening March 12 via Theatre for a New Audience at the American Place Theatre. Previews began March 7.

Byron Jennings stars as Henry Trebell with Kristin Flanders as Amy O'Connell, the woman with whom he becomes involved. Also in the cast are Ross Bickell (The Iceman Cometh), Bill Buell (Titanic), Jordan Charney (Art), Richard Easton (School for Scandal), Graeme Malcom (The King and I), Pamela Nyberg (King John), Evelyn Page, Obie Award winner Henry Stram (Titanic), Michael Tisdale, Brenda Wehle (Cider House Rules) and Anne Louise Zachry.

Designing the show are John Arnone (sets), Martin Pakledinaz (costumes), Christopher Akerlind (lighting), Peter John Still (sound) and Paul Huntley (hair).

Tickets are $45 and $10, for those 25 and under. The American Place Theatre Mainstage is located at 111 West 46th Street. For tickets, call (212) 239-6200. -- By Christine Ehren