Free Throw

For Woody Harrelson, acting in and producing his own one-act piece at the Court Theatre on La Cienega Boulevard, “Two on Two,” as well as Edward Albee’s “Zoo Story,” is more than a case of creating one’s own opportunities. It marks a sort of reunion for Harrelson, who also plays the dim but guileless barkeeper Woody on “Cheers.”

The Hanover (Indiana) College alumnus attempted “Zoo Story” there, and one of his classmates was “Two on Two” co-star Clint Allen.

“I didn’t do ‘Zoo Story’ justice then,” admits Harrelson. “We had less than two weeks preparation. There was no way to get to the bottom of (the character of) Jerry, who is one of the great stage roles.

“Besides,” he adds, reflecting on his increasingly busy career in television and film, “I wanted to get back on the stage-- badly .”

A good way, he reckoned, was to write his own play. “Two on Two” emerged from his weekend haunts of the basketball court.

“It’s fascinating to hear how guys relate to each other while they’re playing,” Harrelson says. “They’re in the midst of action, so they get passionate about their own ideas. There’s a well of feelings under all the macho male bonding.”

During the day, Harrelson’s behind the bar in “Cheers,” but “it’s gotten harder to play him this year,” he reveals.

“Woody lets his trust navigate him. I play him like a kid, since adults give kids a lot of leeway. Yet this business makes you less and less trusting. So now more than ever, I have to focus on what makes Woody tick.”

Harrelson may be less trusting, but no less busy. The NBC movie “Killer Instinct,” in which he co-starred with Melissa Gilbert, aired last week, and his first feature lead, in “Cool Blue,” opens next year.

Further in the future is a two-act comedy he is writing for himself and Carol Kane. “I enjoy the writing,” he remarks, “but playing with Carol--that’s bliss.”