by Hedy Weiss
Theater Critic/hweiss@suntimes.com

John Mahoney will be returning to the Northlight Theatre stage in a world premiere. A drama by acclaimed playwright Amy Herzog will have its Chicago debut. And on the heels of this season's success with "The Odd Couple," another Neil Simon classic will be revived by the Skokie-based company. And while there are still two shows to be announced for Northlight's 2013-2014 season -- designed to examine intergenerational relationships -- here is the lineup so far:

± "4000 Miles" (Sept. 14-Oct. 20): Amy Herzog's drama about a rudderless 21 year-old who, at the end of an arduous cross-country bike trip, seeks refuge in his elderly grandmother's West Village apartment. These two outsiders face ideological differences, but ultimately find their way together in this Obie Award-winning work named Time Magazine's #1 Play of 2012.

± "Chapatti" (Marc 7-April 13, 2014), the world premiere of Irish playwright Christian O'Reilly's drama about two lonely animal-lovers living in Dublin. When forlorn Dan (to be played by Mahoney), and his dog Chapatti, cross paths with amiable Betty and her 19 cats, an unexpected spark begins a warm and gentle story about two people re-discovering the importance of human companionship.

± "Lost in Yonkers" (May 2-June 8, 2014), Neil Simon's 1991 Pulitzer Prize-winning memory play, set in the summer of 1942, as Eddie, flat broke, has no alternative but to leave his sons with their ill-tempered grandmother while he struggles to pay off his debts. The boys must not only contend with their grandmother, but with the sweet but damaged Aunt Bella, and Uncle Louie, a small-time hoodlum.

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