The New York Times-20080125--Glimpses of the Moon-- -Schedule-

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'Glimpses of the Moon'; [Schedule]

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'GLIMPSES OF THE MOON' Some say the Algonquin Hotel is haunted by the spirits of Jazz Age literati like Alexander Woollcott, Dorothy Parker and other members of the celebrated Round Table who met daily in the 1920s to trade bons mots. Perhaps. Certainly many distinguished guests have dined at, or performed in, the hotel's Oak Room, a busy cabaret supper club today. But Monday night's show, an adaptation of Edith Wharton's comic novel The Glimpses of the Moon, is a departure. The Oak Room does not generally offer musical comedy.

Tajlei Levis, who wrote the book and lyrics, teamed up with the composer John Mercurio to adapt the story of two penniless friends (Stephen Plunkett and Patti Murin, above) on the fringe of high society who decide to marry for convenience -- to live off wedding gifts from their wealthy friends. We wrote it expressly for the room, Mr. Mercurio said. He and Ms. Levis tried to take advantage of the elegant surroundings in a variety of ways, he added. Ms. Levis even made some adjustments to highlight New York and the Algonquin. We have a scene that takes place in the Oak Room of 1922, she said. Each week a guest star will portray the hotel's star cabaret singer. Joyce DeWitt and Susan Lucci are on the schedule, along with the Oak Room regular K T Sullivan.

Glimpses presented unusual challenges for the director Marc Bruni and the choreographer Denis Jones. There is no stage, for one thing, and dancing in a room crowded with tables is tricky. Recently, while the cast of six rehearsed the opening dance number, hotel staff members nervously peeked in a few times. This is not business as usual for the Oak Room. (Mondays through March 10 at 8 p.m., Algonquin Hotel, 59 West 44th Street, Manhattan, 212-419-9331, algonquinhotel.com; $50 cover, with a $30 minimum; $50 prix fixe dinner starts at 6:30 p.m.) STEVEN McELROY

[Illustration]PHOTO (PHOTOGRAPH BY KATIE ROSIN)