Penn Jillette's first full-length play, Recreation, is scheduled to open Off-Broadway at the Currican Theatre on Oct. 17. Best known as the vocal half of the darkly comic magic team, Penn & Teller, Jillette had previously written the one-act, Do You Want To Know A Secret.

Described as "a brutal comedy noir," the play concerns James, a dreamer who fantasizes himself into situations "that would make Walter Mitty faint." James, befriended by Amber, an exotic dancer, daydreams himself into such odd situations as being kidnapped, being forced by animal rights activists to trade in the cat he uses for experiments for a human subject, and stalking a tough-minded young woman (much to Amber's chagrin).

Manuel Igrejas, production representative, quoted Penn as warning that the show would be, "outrageously offensive to anyone who doesn't get it."

Recreation, which played at the 1996 Edinburgh Fringe Festival, is directed by Penn's long-time friend, Mike Wills. Wills' Playful Productions and Andrew Miller, founder of the Currican Theatre (and an original member of "Blue Man Group"), are co-producing the current production.

Tickets for the 90-minute show are available at (212) 736-2533.

-- By David Lefkowitz