Christopher Peditto, who established his reputation as a director in Chicago, now works with his company, "igLoo, the theatrical group," in New York. In 1994, Peditto adapted and staged Jim Thompson's The Killer Inside Me, and now he has adapted and will direct Pulp, based on the last novel by Charles Bukowski.

Author of 45 books of prose and poetry, Bukowski -- whose dissipated lifestyle was chronicled in the movie Barfly -- has already served as a Peditto muse: brother Paul Peditto created Buk -- The Life And Times Of Charles Bukowski, staged Off-Broadway in 1994.

Pulp, a dark comedy, follows L.A. private detective Nick Belane, hired by Lady Death to locate notorious French novelist, Celine. He's hurled into an odyssey "of con-men, space aliens and a giant Red Sparrow."

Developed in a Sept. 1996 workshop at Off-Off-Broadway's Workhouse Theatre, igLoo's Pulp opened March 27 at 46 Walker St. IgLoo was founded in Chicago in 1995 and dubbed (by the Chicago Tribune) "a haven for original and obscure works."

For tickets ($12) and information on Pulp, which runs to April 19, call (212) 726-2212. --By David Lefkowitz