'M*A*S*H' ACTOR HAPPY TO BE CREATING LANCASTER PLAY TO FEATURE FORMER TV SERIES ACTOR.

Byline: Greg Botonis Staff Writer

LANCASTER - Gary Burghoff, best known as Radar O'Reilly on the long running television comedy series ``M*A*S*H.,'' will appear tonight as Neil Simon's ``Last of the Red Hot Lovers.''

The play follows the life, or more accurately the midlife crisis, of Barney Cashman, who is ``happily'' married and has a ``happy'' home life and a ``happy'' family but becomes restless.

He yearns to have one sweepingly romantic extra-marital experience and the results of his attempts with three women are comical.

``This is the play that made Simon known,'' Burghoff, an actor for more than 30 years, explained in a telephone interview. ``Barney realizes that he has less years to live than he has lived and he wants one day of unrequited pleasure before the end comes.''

The play will start at 8 p.m. today at the Lancaster Performing Arts Center, 750 W. Lancaster Blvd.

Burghoff began in the play ``You're a Good Man Charlie Brown'' and following the close of the play he was cast for the movie ``M*A*S*H.'' He became the only character from the movie to go onto the series and spent eight years with the ``M*A*S*H.'' series, playing Cpl. Radar O'Reilly. In 1976, he won an Emmy for his performance. After the series ended he went on to several stage roles: playing opposite Fred Astaire in ``The Man in the Santa Claus Suit,'' with Carol Burnette in the Broadway play ``Twigs,'' and in ``The Owl and the Pussycat.''

Burghoff said his roles have allowed him a great amount of diversity.

After performing in Larry Shue's Broadway comedy ``The Nerd,'' he left show business for a more demanding job: fatherhood. He undertook raising his two sons and daughter and followed yet another dream, to learn to paint. Burghoff has displayed his wildlife artwork at galleries across the United States.

``The urges to create are very strong and while (the kids) were in school during the day and sound asleep at night, I had time on my hands for the first time in 25 years,'' Burghoff said. ``I was moved to paint all the things I've see in my life as a sort of legacy to my children.''

As for the future, Burghoff said he plans to continue with his acting but would prefer to do more film. He says he's been content with his performances.

``I'm very happy with the cards I'm dealt and I try not to plan things out to far,'' Burghoff said. ``Right now I'm just having a great time doing this play.''

Burghoff has been on the road with ``Lovers'' for nearly a year now and says the cast is what makes the play so much fun.

``I wanted actors better than I am so I would have to reach, and so far I've been reaching every night,'' Burghoff said.

Sherri Lubov-Ripps will play Elaine Navazio, Genah Gale will play Bobbi Michelle, and Nancy Marvy will play Jeanette Fisher.

Tickets are $30 for orchestra seating and $28 for balcony and are available at the LPAC box office or by calling [phone].