wife and concludes the impostor read Rita's diary to better masquerade as her. Panicked, he demands her return then leaves the apartment. At the bar where Rita worked, Peter sees the Old Man from the wedding reception. They talk and Peter realizes this is the real Rita, who has been living as the Old Man (whose name is Julius). They hope to make another body swap, but discover the Old Man has fled to stay with Rita's parents the Boyles, telling them the marriage is in turmoil and separation is needed. Peter meets Leah, Julius's daughter, and learns the Old Man is a retired widower who has terminal cancer, with maybe a year left to live. As they consider what to do, Peter and Rita live together as a couple again. Rita now appreciates life more deeply, while Peter realizes he loves her despite the shell she inhabits changing how they relate physically. Peter and Rita finally confront Julius, but the Old Man himself isn't sure how to cause the body swap. He came upon their wedding by chance and envied the bride's youth due to his fear of dying. Rita realizes that during their kiss, she had felt envy for the Old Man as well, wishing she could be someone who had already survived into old age despite any obstacles. As the two realize they no longer have the fears they felt that day, Rita and Julius exchange souls again. Julius takes his leave as Rita and Peter reunite. Original cast Costa Mesa Performance: Mark Arnott as Peter Lisa Zane as Rita Frank Hamilton as Old Man Hal Landon, Jr. as Dr. Boyle Teri Ralston as Mrs. Boyle Michael Canavan as Taylor John-David Keller as Minister Art Koustik as Tom Roberta Farkas as Aunt Dorothy Mary Anne McGarry as Leah Revised Play, New York Premiere: Alec Baldwin as Peter Mary-Louise Parker as Rita Barnard Hughes as Old Man Larry Bryggman as Dr. Boyle Debra Monk as Mrs. Boyle John Dossett as Taylor Craig Brockhorn as Minister L. Peter Callender as Tom/Jamaican Waiter Joyce Reehling as Aunt Dorothy/Leah Michael Warren Powell as Uncle Fred Kimberly Dudwitt, Pete Tyler as Ensemble Dramatic analysis Critic Frank Rich wrote: "...this play can be taken as an indirect treatment of [AIDS]. The epidemic is to Mr. Lucas what Babi Yar was to D. M. Thomas, and Peter's fidelity to his true love's soul is