'Rappacini's Daughter & Bad Evidence' at Abingdon Theatre Arts Complex.

Due to continuing renovations in its "home" performance space at Founders Hall, St. Francis Colllege, Brooklyn Heights, Kings County Shakespeare Company's first production of 2005, 'Rappacini's Daughter and Bad Evidence,' will be performed at the Abingdon Theatre Arts Complex from the 14- 17 Apr 2005.

The evening is two one-act plays by Terry Quinn, both directed by Deborah Wright Houston.

Rappacini's Daughter takes place in Bergamo, Italy, where a botanist, Giacomo Rappacini, has armed his daughter, Beatrice, against the evils of the world by confining her in a garden and raising her among the perfumes of poisonous plants. Manipulated by Pietro Baglioni, a jealous professional rival of Rappacini, a vain and worldly suitor named Giovanni gains access to Beatrice and falls in love with her in the splendid, deadly garden. In time, Giovanni becomes inured to the plants' toxins but becomes as poisonous as Beatrice. Unable to overcome his dismay at this, he lashes out at the young woman, and as the unwitting agent of Baglioni's vendetta, kills her.

Bad Evidence is a contemporary play in which a young, attractive married couple is agonizing over suspicion of infidelity. The couple, talking in bed after hosting a party, become increasingly hostile in their language and actions. Sex for them becomes a slow, spider-like dance in which each tries to release inhibitions and tempt the other partner into humiliating confessions by the use of "bad evidence."

Rappacini's Daughter will be acted by Dante Giammarco, Cotton Wright, Andrew Oswald and Jeffrey Guyton. Dancers will include Martina Weber and Ashlynne Holder Mosely. The soprano soloist will be Sabrina Mess. Bad Evidence will be acted by Duvall O'Steen and Andrew Oswald.

Choreographer is Amy Schwartzman. Costume Design is by Lucie Chin and Deborah Wright Houston. Costume Design for the three sisters in "Rappacini's Daughter" is Tae Smith. Set and Prop Design are by Lucie Chin. Lighting Design is by Doug Filomena. Music for both productions is by Terry Quinn.