Earth Girls Are Easy, the campy film comedy with a B-movie look and "'Absolutely Fabulous' Meets Star Wars on a bad hair day" style, has been adapted as a stage musical and is being readied for an Australian premiere in April 1998.

Writer Michael Herrmann, who's adapting the piece for his own company, Manifest Productions company. Malcolm McLaren will executive produce.

Billed as "a science-fiction romantic comedy," Earth Girls tells of Valerie, the manicurist, chasing after a surgeon who's forever two-timing her. After tossing the doctor out, Valerie notices an alien space ship crashing in her swimming pool. Emerging are Mac, Ziploc and Webo, furry alien studs desperate for a date. Valerie enlists the aid of Woody, her pool man, and Candy Pink, her transsexual best friend.

Geena Davis and Jeff Goldblum starred in the film version of Earth Girls, which was scripted by Charlie Coffey, Julie Brown (MTV's "Just Say Julie" comedienne) and, of all people, Terrence McNally.

The stage production of Earth Girls will mix songs from the film ("I Like `Em Big And Stupid," "Brand New Girl," "`Cause I'm A Blonde"), including numbers by Blondie and the B-52s, plus new material created for the stage production by Herrmann and Denis Follington. Debbie Isitt, of London's "Snarling Beasties" theatre company will stage the production, alongside choreographer John O'Connell. Designing Earth Girls will be Michael Wilkinson (set), Angus Strathie (costumes) and Mark Howett (lighting). Chong Lim will serve as music director.

Configured for an unconventional theatre space, Earth Girls Are Easy should reach Sydney by April 1998, with plans to reach Off-Broadway in the 1998-99 season. According to Herrmann, negotiations are underway for a cast recording, which will feature a guest vocalist on "I Like `Em Big And Stupid:" Imelda Marcos.

--By David Lefkowitz