With Copenhagen and Proof making left-brained theatre so en vogue recently, San Francisco's Magic Theatre has been cashing in with a series of readings entitled Science on Stage. Mojie Crigler's Fznn Grrl is the latest entry, receiving its staged reading at the Exploritorium Aug. 1.

In the comedy, geeky Ineke seizes on the science fair project that will not only guarantee her entrance into the college of her choice, but also blow her high school away - perhaps literally. She's going to build a nuclear reactor out of common household items. John Warren directs.

So far, Science on Stage has visited two other comedies - Schrodinger's Girlfriend and Moving Picture. Matthew Well's Joe Orton esque romance Schrodinger's Girlfriend is set for the Magic's 2001-02 season. Moving Picture, directed by Mark Jackson, took a farcical trip through the creation of the motion picture with Thomas Edison.

The final entry, The Secret Order, will be read Aug. 8. The drama, directed by Jessica Heidt, is Robert Clyman's look at the ethics of medical research. In The Secret Order, a young hotshot scientist discovers a cure for cancer that seems promising, but after the announcement, begins to destroy his test rats. His mentor tells him to ignore that detail, while his assistant is asking too many questions about the science, while propositioning him at the same time.

Tickets are $10. For reservations, call (415) 441 8822. The Magic Theatre is on the web at http://www.magictheatre.org. — By Christine Ehren