Southampton - First produced at Joe Papp's Public Theater in the late 1970s starring Estelle Parsons, "Miss Margarita's Way" is being revived by the Bay Street Theater and produced at the Parrish Art Museum in Southampton. This time around the one-woman show stars Bay Street veteran and Drama Desk Award nominated actress Julie Halston. Hamptons.com caught up with Halston after her rehearsal at the museum-turned-theater venue on Tuesday, Aug 18.

Julie Halston will star in the title role of the one-woman show "Miss Margarita's Way" at the Parrish Art Museum.

It is a play Halston has always wanted to perform, "I remember always being intrigued by it. It is a real strange piece, but it is very compelling. It is political, it is very powerful, very theatrical and it is about a tyrannical teacher. It also represents many other things, it has real political underpinnings. It has been performed all other the world, but it has not been done in the United States in a long time, probably because not many actresses want to memorize 58 pages by themselves."

This play is indeed a tour de force for any actress, with Parsons receiving one of her five Tony Award nominations for her performance in 1978. Written by the Brazilian playwright Roberto Athayde, the play serves as an analogy regarding the power of political and social tyranny, but Halston insists that the play is not politically time locked, "No, no, no, it is about all tyrants and all forms of tyranny: educational, religious, political and sexual. It is about power, how people take power, how they abuse power and how they use power over other people. It is a fascinating piece, it has some rough language, it is definitely for mature audiences."

Although Halston admits that she could imagine some audience members being uncomfortable with the subject matter, during its original New York run this important and daring play garnered a cult like following, "It is a cult piece. People returned again and again to see the play. I believe it is even more relevant today than it ever was considering what is going on in the world, the terrorism, the religious fundamentalism and the political upheaval."

Two time Drama Desk Award nominated actress Julie Halston.

A Long Island native raised in Commack, after graduation from Holy Family parochial school in Huntington she attended Hofstra University as a drama major. A career that includes television, stage, film, cabaret and stand up comedy, Halston first found fame in another New York cult stage classic in 1984 appearing in Charles Busch's "Vampire Lesbians Of Sodom," which had a six year run. She and the playwright also formed a theater company at the time. Her collaboration with Busch continued with her 1989 performance in "The Lady In Question" and she has performed in several Busch plays at Bay Street over the past several years. Her performances in "White Chocolate" and yet another Busch play, "Red Scare On Sunset," both earned the actress Drama Desk Award nominations. She has also garnered four MAC Awards for her solo comedy performances. Halston and Busch will team up again in New York in February with his new play, "The Divine Sister."

Although Halston would love to develop "Miss Margarita's Way" into a New York or touring production, due to a film commitment she must limit the Bay Street run in Southampton to only four performances. Halston is thrilled with Bay Street's decision to mount a production outside of their home base of Sag Harbor, "I think it is a great idea. The way the art and theater world is now, well it is like multi-tasking, isn't it? Everyone has to do many different things. Why not use a smaller stage for certain productions and the Parrish Museum obviously gets to enlarge their vision."

Halston, like many artists, admits that the present economy hurts, but feels people need to re-prioritize the importance placed on the arts, "It is not really a luxury, it can be an essential. It really is something that is sustaining and nurturing in a very basic way. I think if people start thinking that way, maybe there will be some movement."

Returning to "Miss Margarita's Way," Halston reiterated, "Words are powerful, they are very powerful and with this play you will see just how powerful they can be. I really hope people come out to see it. It is staged in a gorgeous venue, it is a compelling play that is also funny, sometimes scary and, again, very powerful."

"Miss Margarita's Way" will run for four performances only at the Parrish Art Museun, Aug 19 through Aug. 22. To reserve tickets go to www.baystreet.org or call the box office at 631-725-9500.