'CIVIL warS' Fights On

Avant garde play "the CIVIL warS"--plagued by walkouts when it previewed at the American Repertory Theatre (ART) two weeks ago--has been extended through March 23 for an extra six shows.

"I think we've found our audience and our audience has found us," ART Literary Director Jonathan Marks said yesterday. "If your interest is piqued the first time, that interest is rewarded even more the second time you see the show."

Since the preview, the play has averaged 98.5 percent house capacity, Marks added.

The theater has beefed up the stage crew to speed up scene changes, added a five-minute intermission, and inserted a slip in the program encouraging audience members to leave momentarily to relax, said Charles H. Raphael '88.