Mrs. Farnsworth Returns in Time for Conventions

A.R. Gurney's Mrs. Farnsworth is coming back to the Flea Theater--but without original leads Sigourney Weaver and John Lithgow. Leslie Lyles and Gerry Bamman will join original cast members Danny Burstein, Kate Benson, Fernando Gambaroni and Tarajia Morrell in the Jim Simpson-directed play, running from July 28 through September 4. This return engagement is being billed as the "Convention Run" because it will overlap with both the Democratic National Convention July 26 through July 29 in Boston and the Republican National Convention August 30 through September 2 in Manhattan.

Lyles is currently appearing off-Broadway in The Mystery Plays at the McGinn/Cazale Theater through July 11. She has appeared on Broadway in Hide and Seek, The Real Thing, Garden District and Ah, Wilderness!. In addition to The Mystery Plays, her off-Broadway credits include Down the Garden Paths, Perpetual Patient, Unwrap Your Candy, Passion Play and Roulette.

Bamman won an Obie Award for his performance in Nixon's Nixon. He appeared on Broadway in The Cherry Orchard, Accidental Death of an Anarchist, Execution of Justice, Uncle Vanya and On a Clear Day You Can Forever. Among his other credits is the Flea Theater mounting of The Guys, also directed by Simpson.

A comedy about contemporary politics, Mrs. Farnsworth centers on the title character as she begins writing a book about a former fling with an irresponsible Yale student who often has to be bailed out by his powerful folks. Does the man sound like someone who is always in the news? It should. With Weaver and Lithgow, the show previously had a sold-out engagement at the Flea from March 18 through May 8.