Photo Flash: First Look at Long Wharf's THE UNDERPANTS

Long Wharf Theatre, in association with Hartford Stage, presents The Underpants by Steve Martin, adapted from the play by Carl Sternheim, directed by Artistic Director Gordon Edelstein. The play will take place now through November 10, 2013 at The Claire Tow Stage in the C. Newton Schenck III Theatre before moving to Hartford Stage January 9 through February 9, 2014. The Long Wharf Theatre press opening is Wednesday, October 23 at 7:30 pm. BroadwayWorld has a first look at the cast onstage below!

Pretty, young Louise is bored. Bored with her stuffy bureaucrat of a husband and with her small life. Dreaming of adventure and romance, she goes out to see the King on parade and an unexpected thing happens - her lacy bloomers accidentally fall to her ankles, winning her notoriety, a series of smitten suitors, and more excitement than she's had in years. Adapted by film actor and legendary comedian Steve Martin, The Underpants is a stylish and giddy farce where one learns to never underestimate the power of a glimpse of lingerie. "This is a hilarious and off-kilter comedy about desire and decorum," Edelstein said. "Everyone can relate to making fools of themselves because they were taken with someone."

The cast is George Bartenieff (Klinglehoff), Didi Conn (Gertrude), Jenny Leona (Louise), Jeff McCarthy (Theo), Burke Moses (Versati), and Steve Routman (Cohen). The creative team is comprised of Lee Savage (sets), Jess Goldstein (costumes), Robert Wierzel (lights), and David Budries (sound.) Melissa M. Spengler is the Stage Manager.

The Underpants is an adaptation of German playwright Carl Sternheim's 1911 farce called Die Hose. Martin's version of the play debuted in 2002 at the Classic Stage Company in New York. "Sternheim's play is ribald, self-referential, and quirky. I hope I have retained those elements and assured my place in heaven - I mean, served the playwright's intentions," Martin wrote in his introduction to the play.

Martin's prolific and noteworthy career began as a standup comedian and ventured into film and television, all the while maintaining an ever growing writing career. The progression, Martin claimed, was a simple one. A love of words cultivated in high school and college turned into writing comedy routines. Those sketches turned into screenplays, which further evolved into writing for the theatre.

"I remember being in New York and seeing a comic play, and I thought, "I should be able to do that. I've written screenplays and I've performed live." So I started fooling around, writing my first play, Picasso at the Lapin Agile. The play had more, let's say, thoughtful passages. And those thoughtful passages encouraged me to be able to write. For example, in Pure Drivel there are a few stories that are more thoughtful, and I have these thoughtful sentences. And those few sentences encouraged me to be able to write Shopgirl," Martin told The Believer magazine in 2005.

For more information about The Underpants or to purchase tickets, visit www.longwharf.org or call 203-787-4282.

Photo Credit: T. Charles Erickson

Jenny Leona

Jeff McCarthy

Didi Conn and Jenny Leona

Burke Moses

Didi Conn and Jenny Leona

George Bartenieff

Jeff McCarthy and Steve Routman

Steve Routman

Jenny Leona, Jeff McCarthy and Steve Routman

Jenny Leona and Jeff McCarthy

Didi Conn

Steve Routman, Jeff McCarthy, Jenny Leona and Burke Moses

Didi Conn and Jenny Leona

Burke Moses

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