Neil Genzlinger, one of the New York Times third-string theatre critics, will see his play The Last Detail presented at the 2004 New York International Theatre Festival. The work, adapted by Darryl Ponicsan's novel of the same name, will have original songs by Julia Darling and Andrew Sherman. Michael Weitz will direct.

The story concerns Billy and Mule, two "lifer" sailors, who transport 18-year old fellow sailor Larry Meadows to the brig for the theft of 40 dollars from the charity box of a pet project of the wife of the Commanding Officer. But they won't do so until they show him a good time. The novel was made into a well received 1973 Hal Ashby film starring Jack Nicholson as Billy and Randy Quaid as Larry.

Kevin Mambo of "Guiding Light" will star.

Genzlinger regularly reviews New York productions for the Times. Lately, while second stringer Margo Jefferson has been on leave, he has been getting heftier assignments, such as the reviewing of Much Ado About Nothing at the Delacorte.

This is not the first time a Times theatre writer has been involved in a Fringe production. In 2003, scribe Jesse McKinley played himself in Cats Talk Back, a mock theatre talk-back featuring five former cast members of Andrew Lloyd Webber's Cats.