Club member Gallo’s "Heathcliff in America" premieres, Oct. 22

National Press Club member and playwright Anthony E. Gallo, whose large portfolio mainly consists of mostly historical dramas, is trying his hand at the theater of the absurd -- a form of humor predicated on deliberate violations of causal reasoning, producing events and behaviors that are obviously illogical.

"Heathcliff in America" premieres at noon Saturday, Oct. 22, at the Cosmos Club, 2121 Massachusetts Ave., N.W., Washington, D.C. For tickets, contact: 202-544-6973 or [email protected].

Heathcliff is a trillionaire. He loves his 48-bedroom cottage (Thrushmont Grange) in Rehoboth Beach, Del., one of nearly 40 homes he owns around the world.

The well-protected cottage has 20 servants, and, of course, his trusted butler, Hindley. But he is more than just a servant, and they both share a dead wife.

Mr. Heathcliff’s great joy is wife Cathy, who although dead many years, is still with him even though he has been married four times. He dismisses the heads of Germany, Japan, France, and China and the pope as pests.

He hires a special assistant, one humble Nellie Smith, who is also on a spiritual journey, as a personal assistant. Wait till you find out about her. Oh, well. And then the fireworks begin.

Audience participation and discussion follows the performance.