Cast Shapes Up for Rodney's Wife at Playwrights

David Strathairn, Maryann Plunkett, Haviland Morris, Susan May Pratt and John Rothman, who all appeared in the Williamstown Theatre Festival premiere of Richard Nelson's Rodney's Wife in July, will reprise their roles in the Playwrights Horizons mounting of the play, running on the main stage from November 12 through December 19.

Rodney's Wife takes place in Rome in 1962, but to a group of visiting Americans, it feels more like the far edge of the known world. Rodney Strathairn is a forgotten movie actor, and is in Rome filming one of the first "Spaghetti Westerns." He is living in a villa in the city with Lee Pratt, his 25-year-old daughter; Eva Plunkett, his recently widowed sister; Henry Rothman, his new manager; and his second wife, Fay Morris. Household relations are strained when Fay's reaction to the news of Lee's unexpected engagement is less than enthusiastic.

Strathairn's Broadway credits include Three Sisters, Dance of Death and Salome. A Broadway veteran, Plunkett received a 1987 Best Actress in a Musical Tony Award for her performance in Me and My Girl. Morris' Broadway credits include Arcadia, Tartuffe and Ring Round the Moon. Pratt, who appeared in another Nelson play, Franny's Way, is best known for her film roles in Drive Me Crazy, 10 Things I Hate About You and Center Stage. Rothman has appeared Broadway in Some Americans Abroad and Social Security.

Tom Sadoski, who appeared as Ted in the show at Williamstown, cannot appear in the Playwrights mounting because he is set for the Broadway production of Reckless. The role of Ted has yet to be cast for the upcoming mounting.