Mexico Teatro's Muerte (Death), written by Maria Morett and directed by Alvara Hegewisch, will be performed in the courtyard (Teatro 214) of the CHARAS/El Bohio Community Center beginning Aug. 17. Muerte's Fringe Festival program includes shows on Aug. 19, 21, 25 and 26. An outdoor performance about the boundaries between life and death, Muerte will no doubt strike a resonate chord with CHARAS audiences. The late founder of the beleaguered CHARAS center, Armando Perez, was found beaten and dying a year ago outside his wife's apartment in Queens. While Perez' murder remains unresolved, Muerte's poetic message appears to be that our deeds, particularly those that hurt us, are not soon forgotten.

Tickets are $12. CHARAS' Teatro 214 is in the community center, which is located at 605 E. Ninth St. on the Lower East Side. For information call (212) 420-8877.

-- By Murdoch McBride