Brad Pitt, Matt Damon, and Jim Carrey have all incarnated their own version of this character. Death seems to keep being personified by a handsome young man (well, maybe not in Ingmar Bergman's "The Seventh Seal"), and now playwright Sam Bobrick continues the tradition in his New York City premiere of Death in England which is closing, as scheduled, at the Vital Theatre Company in midtown Manhattan July 30.

Death features Bobrick's take on the dramatis personae of Death in the style of classic British farce. Upon his visit to England to 'take' a wealthy sanitarium owner, Death loses his powers. With the help of an inspector, a wife, a maid, a hooker, and Life himself, they all try to solve this mystery.

Bobrick (Norman, Is That You? and Remember Me?), has recently co written two other plays with Julie Stein, Sheldon and Mrs. Levine and Lenny's Back, the latter of which is slated for an Off-Broadway run this fall. He will attend one of the final performances of this production, according to press spokesperson Stephen Sunderlin.

Vital Theatre Company Producing Director, Scott C. Embler directs the production. The rest of the team includes technical director Martin Miller, costume designers Stephanie Sowa and Nestelynn Gay, choreographer Michael Schloegl, fight choreographer David Sitler, and dialect coach Kate Anthony.

Kenny Morris (Broadway's Les Miserables) heads the cast as Michael Hedges, the man Death comes for. His wife, Irene, is played by Karin Wolfe (Broadway's revival of Gigi). The rest of the cast includes Todd Wilson as the young handsome Death, Polly Humphreys as the maid Jane, Todd Butera as Inspector Mirabella, Marianna Kulukundis as Constance Lawson, Joe McClean as Alfie Crown, and Robert Meksin as Jonathan Pike. Death tolls at the Vital, 432 West 42nd Street (between 9th and 10th Ave.) until July 30. Pay your $15 respects by calling (212) 592-0129 for reservations.

-- by Ernio Hernandez