Westport Country Playhouse to Host Reading of A.R. Gurney's THE COCKTAIL HOUR, 3/14

Westport Country Playhouse will present a Script in Hand playreading of A. R. Gurney's "The Cocktail Hour," a funny and touching, quasi-autobiographical story about a playwright who writes a new play that presents an unflattering picture of his family, on Monday, March 14, at 7 p.m. The play will be directed by Anne Keefe, Playhouse associate artist and curator of the playreading series. Tickets are $20 each.

"I was reminded of this lovely play by Playhouse favorite A.R. Gurney during our gala honoring him in 2014, when we did a brief scene as part of the evening," said Keefe. "The popularity of last season's Gurney play, 'Love and Money,' called it to mind again. I think it will touch the audience in many of the usual Gurney ways, but also give them things to laugh about and relate to."

"The Cocktail Hour" is about John, a playwright, who returns to his family's house, bringing with him a new play which he has written about them. His purpose is to obtain their permission to proceed with production, but his wealthy, very proper parents are cautious. They are disturbed by the bluntness of modern plays. Their confrontation takes place during the ritual of the cocktail hour, and as the martinis flow, so do the recriminations and revelations, both humorous and poignant.

Cast members for "The Cocktail Hour" are: Jack Gilpin as Bradley (Westport Country Playhouse's "Hay Fever," "A Cheever Evening," and more, four Script in Hand playreadings; Showtime's "Billions"); Claire Karpen as Nina (WCP's "Bedroom Farce"; Broadway's "Sylvia"; Off-Broadway's "Into the Woods," "The Heir Apparent"); Ann McDonough as Ann (WCP's "The Cocktail Hour" (1990), two Script in Hand playreadings; Off-Broadway's "The Dining Room"); and Jake Robards as John (WCP's "The Dining Room," "Our Town," which transferred to Broadway, five Script in Hand playreadings). All artists are subject to change.

Playwright A. R. ("Pete") Gurney, a Connecticut resident, has had many of his plays produced by Westport Country Playhouse, including last year's premiere of "Love and Money," and 2013's "The Dining Room," winner of several Connecticut Critics Circle Awards. Gurney has been writing plays for many years, and is best known for "Love Letters," and "Sylvia." A new play, "Family Furniture," was recently produced at the Flea Theater, while two revivals, "The Wayside Motor Inn" and "What I Did Last Summer," found new life at the Signature Theatre. Gurney has received several awards for the body of his work and is a member of the Dramatists Guild, the American Academy of Arts and Letters, and the Theatre Hall of Fame. His website is argurney.com.

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. Script in Hand corporate sponsor is People's United Bank Wealth Management. The series is supported, in part, by the White Barn Program of the Lucille Lortel Foundation.

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