Barbara Tarbuck stars in Enter the Night, the second play of Off-Broadway's Signature Theatre Company's season devoted to avant-garde playwright Maria Irene Fornes.

The New York premiere of Enter the Night, Nov. 23-Dec. 19, costars Dallas Roberts and Rebecca Harris opposite Tarbuck, whose credits include Brighton Beach Memoirs on Broadway.

In Fornes' Night, the relationship of three friends illustrates the layers of illusion we build in our minds to fulfill others' expectations and our expectations of ourselves. Issues of gender, role playing and living in illusion come to the fore in Night, which also includes an homage to the D.W. Griffith film, "Broken Blossoms."

The play, which officially opens at Signature Dec. 5, premiered at Seattle's New City Theatre in 1993. Sonja Moser, an MFA Directing fellow at Columbia University, directs the off-Broadway staging, which has sets by Christine Jones, costumes by Gabriel Berry, sound design by Glen Tarachow and lighting by Jane Cox.

Mud and Drowning, two one-acts, opened the Fornes season in September, and the final play of the season will be the world premiere of an as-yet-untitled new work. The work will be based on the alleged suicide of Freddy Urco, a ballet dancer, and explore the late `60s downtown arts scene in New York City. The playwright herself will direct. Other Fornes plays include Fefu And Her Friends, Promenade, The Summer in Gossenssass, A Vietnamese Wedding, Abingdon Square, Dr. Kheal, Successful Life of 3, The Danube, Terra Incognita and The Conduct of Life. In her career, over 30 years long, Fornes has been the recipient of eight OBIE Awards -- including the prestigious lifetime achievement award.

For memberships and information on the Signature Theatre season call (212) 244-PLAY.

-- By Robert Simonson