A onetime New York Fringe Theatre Festival entry, Matt & Ben has been picked up for a twirl by the Mad Cat Theatre troupe. Director Paul Tei and his small cast bring more than enough sass without a hint whatsoever of put-down, to float the premise: Damon and Affleck are scrounging, out-of-work actors desperate enough to try writing a movie adaptation of The Catcher in the Rye for themselves when the Good Will Hunting manuscript literally falls from the heavens.

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Damon has won a role in a Sam Shepard play at a small theater in the Boston area but is afraid to tell his partner, fearing Affleck will slide into jealousy and depression. Nor is Damon convinced that their version of Catcher, if it’s ever finished, will find a producer. About that time in a hilarious feat of low-tech special effects, the Hunting script ka-plops out of the Light Box rafters onto the cluttered floor of the bachelors’ pad.

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Variety says a deal is being negotiated for Damon to play Polo, who ventured farther into Asia than any Westerner before him. His journey took 24 years, during which Polo became a confidante of Kublai Khan and witness to many technological advances of China and Mongolia.

Monahan also wrote Tripoli, the story of how U.S. soldier William Eaton joined forces with an exiled king to overthrow the corrupt ruler of what is now Libya. Ridley Scott is attached to direct.

The buff star of action flicks including The Bourne Identity has been dating Barosso for 12 months since he met the aspiring interior designer at the Miami bar where she worked.
Since then, Barosso has travelled the world with the 34-year-old actor, staying with him in Europe during the filming of Ocean’s 12 and even travelling Down Under late last year for the premiere of The Bourne Supremecy.

A friend told American gossip mag Us Weekly the pair were engaged but “it’s all very hush, hush”.

Damon’s spokesperson has refused to confirm or deny the reports.

Damon has been linked to several Hollywood stars in the past including Winona Ryder and, most famously, Minnie Driver, who heard news of the couple’s break-up via the Oprah Winfrey show.

But, after the media circus surounding good pal Ben Affleck and Jennifer Lopez, Damon told the Sunday Telegraph Sunday Magazine last year that he was sworn off celebrity romances and now only dates “civilians”.

Damon is sticking to the metaphorical fast lane, starring in Dimension’s planned July release “The Brothers Grimm” and Warner Bros. Pictures’ planned September release “Syriana,” executive producing a third season of “Project Greenlight” (now on Bravo) and executive producing the “project” in question, Dimension’s upcoming thriller “Feast.” He also has earned his second ShoWest honor, for Male Star of the Year — his first came in 1998 for Male Star of Tomorrow. Damon chatted recently with The Hollywood Reporter’s Randee Dawn about the award, being an unlikely action hero and keeping his eye on the ball.