Henry Chinaski would appreciate the second chance.

South of No North, a theatrical rendering of the down-and-out subjects of the late poet and writer, Charles Bukowski, will rise again in an industry reading June 27 with hopes to drum up more support for a 29th Street Rep full mounting in September.

9th Street Rep staged a showcase production of the play Feb. 24-March 26. In the piece, nine stories from the "South of No North" collection were adapted and directed by Leo Farley and Jonathan Powers for the stage.

Characterized by Bukowski's creation, Henry Chinaski, South of No North follows the adventures of a man down on his luck but still determined. Bukowski's Chinaski works also include two of his classic novels, "Post Office" and "Women." His screenplay "Barfly" was made into a 1988 movie starring Faye Dunaway and Mickey Rourke and that process, in turn, became a novel, "Hollywood." He died in California March 9, 1994, after completing his final novel, "Pulp."

Stephen Payne, recently star of the film "Hell's Kitchen" with 2000 Academy Award winner Angelina Jolie, stars as Bukowski. Tim Corcoran, Elizabeth Elkins, Paula Ewin, Thomas Wehrle, Pamela Ericscon and Charles Willey are also in the cast. For reservations to the reading, located at 212 West 29th Street, 2nd Floor, call (212) 465-0575. For more information on 29th Street Rep, consult the web at http://www.29thstreetrep.com.

-- By Christine Ehren