LIAM NEESON - NEESON PAINTS THE TOWN RED IN WIFE'S ABSENCE

Hollywood actor LIAM NEESON has been enjoying his male friends' company after his wife NATASHA RICHARDSON requested they spend time apart.

The KINSEY star attended the BROOKLYN ACADEMY OF MUSIC gala performance of MATTHEW BOURNE's PLAY WITHOUT WORDS with fellow screen star KEVIN KLINE.

In order to research her role as BLANCHE in an upcoming staging of the TENNESSEE WILLIAMS play STREETCAR NAMED DESIRE, Richardson has moved out of their marital home to keep her mind focused.

She tells PAGESIX.COM, "(It's) absolutely necessary. A few nights a week, I exile myself to a small office apartment.

"I have to give up going home so I can work on the piece."