Posted on: Monday, April 22, 2002

TIP-OFF
Prize-winning drama kicks off with benefit

By Wayne Harada
Advertiser Entertainment Editor

Betty Burdick will portray Dr. Vivian Bearing, a professor battling ovarian cancer, in Manoa Valley Theatre's Honolulu premiere of the Pulitzer Prize-winning drama, "Wit," starting with a American Cancer Society benefit performance at 7:30 p.m. May 14.

Roger Long, guest director, also has cast David Schaeffer as Dr. Kelekian/Mr. Bearing; Brent Yoshikane as Dr. Jason Posner; Lei Spadaccini as Susie Monahan; and Sharon Adair as Prof. E. M. Ashford. The ensemble features Eric Field, Stephanie Kuroda, Leigh John Roberts, Adria Roblee-Hertzmark, Erich Steinwandt and Jaime Steinwandt.

The benefit, from 6 to 9 p.m., will include a pre-curtain cocktail reception, mini stress-relieving massages, makeup touch-ups, and a gift basket giveaway from Malama an Aveda Lifestyle Salon Spa in Manoa. There also will be talks by cancer survivors and specialists.

Regular performances will be at 7:30 p.m. Wednesdays and Thursdays, 8 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays, and 4 p.m. Sundays, through June 2. Tickets are $25; $5 discounts available for seniors and military; patrons 25 years old and under are admitted for $10. For reservations, call 988-6131.

A buffet dinner by Donato's Restaurant starts 90 minutes before curtain on the MVT lanai Wednesdays through Saturdays.

"Wit," by Margaret Edson, was an off-Broadway hit in the 1999 season and won, besides the Pulitzer, the Drama Critics Circle Award, two Drama Desk Awards, three Outer Critics Circle Awards, and four Lucille Lortel Awards. Last year, Emma Thompson starred in an HBO Films version of the drama.