MARY, MARY & PACK OF LIES Set for Westport Country Playhouse's Winter Script in Hand Playreadings Series

Westport Country Playhouse announced its winter Script in Hand playreadings with "Mary, Mary," a witty romantic comedy about a marriage gone hilariously awry, by Jean Kerr, on Monday, February 10, at 7 p.m., and "Pack of Lies," a provocative thriller about spying, by Hugh Whitemore, on Monday, March 10, at 7 p.m. Director of both Script in Hand playreadings is Anne Keefe, Playhouse associate artist and curator of the playreading series. Casting for both readings will be announced soon. Tickets to each Script in Hand playreading are $15.

"'Mary, Mary' is just as clever and entertaining as it was in the '60s when it ran on Broadway," said Keefe. "I can't think of a better way to brighten a cold February night. It's just in time for Valentine's Day, so bring your spouse or significant other and remember why you loved him/her to begin with!"

"Mary, Mary" focuses on recently divorced Mary and Bob, who meet to sort out some tax matters when a Valentine's Day snowstorm traps them in his apartment with their lawyer, a handsome film hero, and Bob's young and wealthy fiancé.

On "Pack of Lies," Keefe stated, "With the NSA and spying in general back in the headlines lately, I was intrigued to find this play which seems on the surface to be about spying 'old school'. It takes the form of a thriller, but examines not only the culture of lying, but also what an individual can and will do as a patriot. The play is based on a true story!"

"Pack of Lies" is about a nice, middle-aged British couple who are asked by Scotland Yard to use their house as an observation station to try and foil a Soviet spy ring operating in the area. They are put to the test with the suggestion that the spies may be their neighbors and best friends.

Director Anne Keefe served as artistic director of Westport Country Playhouse with JoAnne Woodward in 2008, and as associate artistic director from 2000-2006, also with Ms. Woodward. She co-directed with Ms. Woodward the Westport Country Playhouse production of "David Copperfield," and directed many Script in Hand playreadings.

Script in Hand sponsors are Marc and Michele Flaster; Script in Hand partners are Ann Sheffer and Bill Scheffler. The series is supported, in part, by the White Barn Program of the Lucille Lortel Foundation.

For more information or tickets, call the box office at (203) 227-4177, or toll-free at 1-888-927-7529, or visit Westport Country Playhouse, 25 Powers Court, off Route 1, Westport. Tickets are available online 24/7 at www.westportplayhouse.org.