Producer Scott Rudin Prints Ad Calling The New York Times' Patrick Healy 'Infant Provocateur and Amateur Journalist'

THE TESTAMENT OF MARY, the controversial play which closed yesterday following just 16 regular performances, is now igniting a very different kind of controversy: an ad placed for the show on Sunday's New York Times includes a quote, attributed to the show's producer Scott Rudin, which reads: "Let's give a big cuddly shout-out to Pat Healy, infant provocateur and amateur journalist at The New York Times. Keep it up, Pat - one day perhaps you'll learn something about how Broadway works, and maybe even understand it."

Rudin, who is currently represented on Broadway as the lead producer of the smash hit THE BOOK OF MORMON, ran the ad following New York Times journalist Patrick Healy's interview with THE TESTAMENT OF MARY's writer, Colm Toibin. The interview - which describes Rudin as "one of the most successful and strong-minded producers on Broadway" - focuses on the play's closing notice, the news of which came to Toibin immediately after a Tony Award nomination for Best Play.

Healy asked Toibin several questions about Rudin, including whether or not the writer had asked Rudin to reconsider the show's closing. "I really trust his judgment. If he was calling to say that this was the decision he'd come to," Toibin responded, "then in my view the finances of the show - whether it could run an extra week or not - is of no concern to me."

THE TESTAMENT OF MARY, starring Fiona Shaw and directed by Deborah Warner, featured scenery designed by Tom Pye, costume designed by Ann Roth, lighting designed by Jennifer Tipton and original music and sound designed by Mel Mercier.