Following his gripping production of `Extremities' last July, Kevin Bean has chosen a drama -- "with some very funny moments'' -- by Sam Shepard for this year's offering.

`Fool for Love' is described as a modern triangle of love with some very tense moments. It centres around the relationship of Eddie (played by Kevin Bean) and May (Venus Harris) who are in love but have some important issues to resolve. Caught in the middle is Martin, played by Alex Parisien, who persuades May to go out on a date with him on the very evening that Eddie returns after a long absence. Presiding over it all is a fourth character, played by Big Daddy Gates. Rather mysteriously, however, Mr. Bean explains that "he only exists in the minds of the young couple''.

Pulitzer prize-winning playwright Shepard is seen very much as an `actor's playwright', largely because he combines writing for the stage and screen with a successful acting career. Rhapsodic reviewers describe him as `the best practicing American playwright' (The New Republic) and `the most exciting presence in the movie world and one of the most gifted writers ever to work on the American stage'.

"I like plays that are based on reality,'' says Bean, "plays that encourage the audience to think, rather than just sit back and laugh. I want them to be completely involved and to participate mentally in what is going on -- and there is plenty going on in this play!'' Guest artist Harris agrees: "I love doing Sam Shepard's work. Because of his background, he is so clever at bringing everything together, both technically and emotionally.'' Besides taking on one of the leading roles, Kevin Bean is also directing and producing the play through his company, Kevin Bean Productions, which he founded last year. He is no stranger to the world of theatrical production, however: his first summer show was staged eight years ago.

Since then, his passion for the thespian life has seen him complete a two-year drama course at the Neighbourhood Playhouse in New York. For this past academic year, he has also taken courses at the New York Film Academy, a move which has pointed him in a new direction.

"I want to go back and continue my studies there,'' he enthuses. "My ultimate goal is to direct films.'' Casting both Venus Harris and Alex Parisien in one of his student films, which he wrote, directed and produced this year, Bean decided they would be perfect for the local production and invited them to Bermuda.

"We didn't need much persuading,'' laughs Parisien, who was at the Playhouse with Bean. "I've been very excited about coming here to work with Kevin. I had just finished doing Shakespeare's `Two Gentlemen of Verona' for the New York Stage and Film Company, which was a wonderful experience. I have worked with Kevin before, when we both appeared in a musical revue called `Don't Tell Mama' on 46th St., in New York.'' Venus Harris has a strong background in dance, having appeared with both the Dance Theatre of Harlem and Philadanco, and recently toured Europe in a `Best of Broadway Revue.' `Fool for Love' will be performed at City Hall on August 22 and 23 at 8 p.m.

nightly. Tickets at $20 are available from City Hall Box Office, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. daily.

KEVIN BEAN -- "I like plays that are based on reality -- plays that encourage the audience to think, rather than just sit back and laugh.''