Vineyard Theatre Extends Mary Rose through March 18

Due to strong ticket sales, the Vineyard Theatre has extended its production of J. M. Barrie's rarely-seen, 1920 play Mary Rose, which is receiving its first major revival in over 50 years at The Vineyard Theatre (108 East 15th Street).

The production will now run through March 18th.  Mary Rose, which began previews on February 1st and will open on February 20th, was originally slated to run through March 11th. Tina Landau (Floyd Collins) directs.

A little-known play by the author of Peter Pan, Mary Rose is "the haunting, lyrical tale of a young woman's disappearance and her mysterious return to her family," state press notes.  Keir Dullea (2001: A Space Odyssey) and newcomer Paige Howard lead an ensemble cast.

Keir Dullea, most recently seen Off-Broadway in Strings, is best known for his portrayal of astronaut David Bowman in 2001: A Space Odyssey and its sequel 2010: The Year We Make Contact. He currently appears in The Good Shepherd, directed by Robert DeNiro, and will appear opposite Uma Thurman in the upcoming film The Accidental Husband. Other credits include the films Bunny Lake Is Missing, David and Lisa, and The Fox, and numerous television appearances. Mr. Dullea's Broadway credits include Butterflies are Free, P.S. Your Cat is Dead, and the 1974 revival of Cat on a Hot Tin Roof.

Paige Howard is a 21-year-old NYU theatre student and daughter of film director Ron Howard. She is making her professional debut in Mary Rose.

The cast of Mary Rose also includes Betsy Aidem (Celebration and the Room at Atlantic Theatre), Ian Brennan (The Distance From Here at MCC), Susan Blommaert (Measure for Pleasure at The Public), Michael Countryman (Night Must Fall), Tom Riis Farrell (Dirty Blonde), Darren Goldstein (Abigail's Party), and Richard Short (Entertaining Mr. Sloane at Roundabout Theatre).

Mary Rose has set design by James Schuette; costume design by Michael Krass; lighting design by Kevin Adams; and original music and sound design by Obadiah Eaves.

Novelist and playwright James M. Barrie (1860-1937) is best known for Peter Pan, first staged in London in 1904 and on Broadway a year later. His other plays include The Professor's Love Story, Quality Street, The Admirable Crichton, The Little Minister, Barbara's Wedding, and What Every Women Knows.

Mary Rose has not been seen in New York for more than 50 years. The play was a major obsession and inspiration for Alfred Hitchcock, who saw the original London production many times as a young man and always hoped to get a film adaptation produced.

Performances of Mary Rose run Tuesdays-Saturdays at 8pm; with matinees, Saturdays and Sundays at 3pm. Tickets are $60 to purchase tickets call, 212-353-0303 or visit www.vineyardtheatre.org.

Photo - Keir Dullea