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NPR's Julie McCarthy reports from London that the Royal National Theatre is currently presenting a feat never before undertaken. It is staging -- simultaneously -- Alan Ayckbourne's twin plays House and Garden. Actors move back and forth between two theaters, racing from one stage to the other to hit their cues. Audiences, though, can view only one play at a time. Ayckbourne calls the twin farces "a modern morality play."

Misty Hyman, an American, defeated Australia's Susie O'Neill Wednesday for the gold medal in the 200 meter butterfly. O'Neill, nicknamed Madame Butterfly by her countrymen, was heavily favored in the race, and Hyman, a first-time Olympian, reacted to her victory with joyous disbelief. Americans fared well in the pool, also capturing gold in the women's 4x200 freestyle relay. Jenny Thompson anchored the US team, winning her seventh career gold medal. Pieter van den Hoogenband of the Netherlands won swimming's glamour event, the 100 meter freestyle, making him the surprise star of the swimming competition. NPR's Howard Berkes reports.

Robert speaks with Margaret Ann and Bob Fagen, owners of Margaret Ann Fagen Research. They spent a recent Atlanta Braves game in the ballpark restrooms, counting the number of people who didn't wash their hands after using the facilities. They found that more women wash their hands than men, at least at baseball games.

David Greenberger reviews Worried, a CD compilation of the blues music of Asie (AY-see) Payton, a Mississippi farmer who died driving his tractor in May of 1997. The CD tracks were intended only to be demos. But Payton never got the chance to record more. (3:45) The CD, Worried is produced by Fat Possum records, catalog # 80326-2.

NPR's Anthony Brooks reports on George W. Bush's attacks on his Democratic rival. The Republican candidate has been using a two-part strategy this week in an effort to attract voters: He's been casting doubt on Gore's character while trying to re-cast himself as the real friend of the middle class. Yesterday, Bush accused Gore of hypocrisy for criticizing the entertainment industry, and then raising money from it.

NPR's Debbie Elliot reports that the national anti-smoking initiative that was created by the tobacco industry's settlement with states is running ads during the Olympics. The controversial ads, spoofs of industry ads, feature body bags to portray tobacco's death toll. The industry says it is being vilified in violation of the agreement. Ad analysts say the ads are effective and reach an unprecedented audience for a public health message.

Commentator Rebecca Flowers thinks its a bad week to be a woman.

Host Bob Edwards talks to NPR's Tom Goldman about some of the events and results at the Summer Olympics in Sydney. The Netherlands pulled off the biggest shock of the tournament with their 4-2 victory over Cuba. The U.S. softball team lost its third straight extra-inning marathon. This time Australia beat the Americans 2-1 in 13 innings.

NPR's Margot Adler reports that a lawyer who operated one of the nation's largest immigration asylum firms and seven others were charged yesterday with helping smugglers sneak scores of Chinese into the country. The case marks the first time that members of a law firm have been indicted under the federal racketeering laws for alien smuggling.

Host Bob Edwards talks to James Glassman of the American Enterprise Institute about the year-long lull in the US economy. Glassman says three things could be contributing to the slump: the sliding Euro, rising oil prices, and the possibility of one-party control in the federal government.