"An Evening of Adultery" is coming to UMBC. Granted, none of the participants are actually married to their onstage spouse, but in the world that George Bernard Shaw created, that is irrelevant. The Department of Theatre's latest production, "An Evening of Adultery," features two one-act comedies written by the famed British playwright and is under the direction of Colette Searls.

Both comedies look at adultery and the ramifications that it brings, but in a completely opposite manner. The first part of the production is Overruled. "This is more realistic and contains elements of farce and drawing-room British comedy," Searls says, adding, "It makes fun of British morality and British culture." When the adultery slaps each couple in the face, they sit down and have a nice chat about the situation. Enter jealousy and possessiveness and welcome to the second half of the evening -- Passion, Poison, and Petrifaction -- which introduces emotion and a hint of melodrama into the mix. "This is a volcanic theatrical explosion of passion," adds Searls.

Searls is a recent graduate of UC-Irvine's M F.A. Drama program, with an emphasis on directing. This is her first production at UMBC and the enthusiasm she exudes is obvious to all. Commenting on the reasons behind her choice of the Shaw plays, Searls says, "I chose these plays because the department and I determined that Shaw's language is extremely challenging and it requires very hard work." Searls is also impressed with the level of commitment and talent in the theatre department. "I'm very pleased to find the actors are up to the challenge," she states.

An Evening of Adultery runs on Nov. 21-23 and Dec. 6 and 7 at 8 p.m., and Nov. 24 and Dec. 5 (free show for UMBC community) and 8 at 4 p.m. Tickets are $ 10 for general admission, $8 for UMBC faculty and staff, and $5 for students. All performances will be in the UMBC Theatre and all ticket proceeds benefit the UMBC Department of Theatre Scholarship Fund. For more information go to www.umbc.edu/arts or call the Box Office at (410) 455-2476.

A dinner theater performance of "An Evening of Adultery" is sponsored by the UMBC Friends of the Library and Gallery. 5:30 p.m. reception; 6 p.m. dinner and talk by director Colette Searls; 8 p.m. performance. For further information, reservations and tickets ($35/each) call the UMBC Library offices at (410) 455-2356 or e-mail aok@umbc.edu by Nov. 27.

- Jennifer Leigh Gibson