Baitz Movie Previews Here

A preview of "The Substance of Fire," Jon Robin Baitz's film based on his hit Off-Broadway play, will be held at the Sag Harbor Cinema on Saturday at 6:45 p.m., to benefit the Bay Street Theatre.

The evening will begin at 5 p.m. with cocktails and hors d'oeuvres at the Paradise Diner in Sag Harbor. Benefit tickets are $75, or $25 for the movie alone, and can be reserved by calling Sonya Horowitz at the Bay Street Theatre.

"The Substance of Fire" is directed by Daniel Sullivan and stars Ron Rifkin, Timothy Hutton, Sarah Jessica Parker, Lee Grant, Tony Goldwyn, Roger Rees, Adolph Green, and Debra Monk.

Originally conceived in 1989 as a play at the New York City-based theater company the Naked Angels, it began a full run at Playwrights Horizons two years later. It then moved to Lincoln Center and had a run in Los Angeles before being adapted into a screenplay.

Triumph Over Pain

"Substance of Fire" is a psychological drama that explores the emotional turbulence between a father and his three grown children, and a story of family triumph over the pain of a damaging past.

Mr. Baitz, who lives in Sag Harbor, wrote the leading role of Isaac Geldhart specifically for Mr. Rifkin, who won both Obie and Drama Desk Awards for his stage performance in the role.

The playwright's other works include "Three Hotels," "A Fair Country," "The End of the Day," and "The Film Society." His newest play, "Amphibians," had a reading last month at Bay Street.

"Wind In The Willows"

While Bay Street raises funds at the movie house, a children's musical version of "The Wind in the Willows" will be playing at the theater.

A presentation of Stages children's theater workshop, Kenneth Graham's classic tale of Mole, Badger, Ratty, and their battle against the wicked animals of the Wild Wood, not to mention Mr. Toad's mania for motorcars, will star 23 East End actors aged from 7 to 14. They are directed by Helene Leonard.

Performances will be tomorrow at 7:30 p.m. and on Saturday and Sunday at 2 p.m.