Camus' 'Misunderstanding' Begins Rare Revival Run in NYC; Ellen Crawford Stars

Ellen Crawford, of TV's "ER," stars in Horizon Theatre Rep's Off-Broadway production of Albert Camus' play, The Misunderstanding, at the Flea Theatre in Manhattan, starting Oct. 29.

Alex Lippard (Off-Broadway's recent A Touch of the Poet, featuring Crawford) directs the rarely-seen 1948 play, produced by Horizon and presented by Flea Theatre downtown at 41 White Street. Opening is Nov. 2.

According to production notes, "In The Misunderstanding, a man returns home to Europe to be reunited with his mother (played by Crawford) and sister following a 20-year absence. As he anxiously awaits to reveal his identity to them, notions of love and family take on chilling new meanings in the hideous circumstances of his last few hours."

Joining Crawford (who played Nurse Lydia Wright on "ER") are Erin Cherry, Rafael De Mussa, Stuart Rudin and Wendy Allegaert.

The design team is Zack Tinkelman (lighting design), Amanda Bujak (costume design), Michael Moore (scenic design), Amy Altadonna (sound design).

The Misunderstanding is one of a small number of plays written by Camus in his lifetime, according to production notes. He was born in Algeria in 1913 and became famous as a novelist and essayist and won the Nobel Prize for literature in 1957. At the height of his fame, Camus was killed in a car crash near Paris.

This production coincides with a major new biography about the writer, "Camus, A Romance," by Elizabeth Hawes. Camus' most famous play, Caligula, was revived last year by Horizon Theatre Rep.

The Misunderstanding will be presented Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays at 9 PM, with added performances Mondays Nov. 2 and 9 at 7 PM and Sundays Nov. 15 and 22 at 3 PM.

Tickets available by calling (212) 352- 3101 or online at www.theflea.org.

Now in its ninth year, HTR is dedicated to producing work from the international repertory. HTR aims to give emerging and established artists the opportunity to take risks, to excel, and to make their mark. Past productions include its acclaimed production of Jean-Paul Sartre's Men Without Shadows, the first version of Vassa Zheleznova by Maxim Gorky featuring a new translation; the English language premieres of Armand Salacrou's Night's of Wrath, 3xPirandello at The New York International Fringe Festival and Dejan Dukovski's Powder Keg.