Off-beat dramas and oddball comedies comprise the 1997-98 season at Pennsylvania's Allens Lane Theatre, which begins tonight, Sept. 18.

Up first is Joe Orton's Loot, a satire of "everything from motherhood to money" by the author of What The Butler Saw. Ed Lawler directs, Sept. 18-Oct. 4.

Up next is John Porter's comedy/drama, Men Talking Women Talking Men, which examines the sexes from both viewpoints. Frank Burd directs Nov. 6-22.

Douglas Delaney's American Airborne follows, Jan. 15-31, 1998. Robyn Goldman directs this dark comedy of three women in a compulsory rehab center.

Laurie Bailey then stages More Fun Than Bowling, by Steven Dietz, March 5-21, 1998. Dietz's other plays include Lonely Planet and an adaptation of Dracula. Closing the season will be Joe Sears, Jaston Williams & Ed Howard's comedy of small-town loonies, Greater Tuna (later sequelled into A Tuna Christmas on Broadway). Maryann Elder directs Greater Tuna, April 23-May 9, 1998.

Located in Fairmont Park, a few miles from Old Town Philadelphia, Allens Lane Theatre has previously staged such daring works as Nicky Silver's Fat Men In Skirts and Paula Vogel's The Baltimore Waltz.

For tickets ($10 per show, $35 subscription) and information on the Allens Lane Theatre season call (215) 248-0546.

--By David Lefkowitz