Riding on the heels of their critical success, Picture This, NYC's Axis Theatre Company will present a return engagement of their 1997 serial, Hospital, running July 22 - Sept. 17, at their space at One Sheridan Square.

In Hospital, a 10-year-old boy falls victim to a devastating fire, putting him in a terminal coma. As he lies in his hospital bed, the boy's brain creates a double, a twin "Ghost Traveller" that attempts to create an imagined future, a future where the fire never happened. Both worlds merge to create a nightmarish landscape in the unconscious mind of the boy as he attempts to not only understand his present condition, but tell fact from fiction.

The company opened their new space in May with Picture This, after extensive renovations to the space -- the former home of Charles Ludlam's Ridiculous Theatrical Company. Axis has revamped the house, changing seating configuration from 143 seats to 99 and filling the space with top of-the line sound equipment, lighting, projectors and rigging.

Co-artistic director Randy Sharp directs Hospital, continuing Axis's efforts to combine the world of experimental theatre and the horror genre. The company cites as influences The Wooster Group, Richard Foreman, Tobe Hooper and David Cronenberg.

Each episode of the serial will run two weeks, with the exception of the final episode, which is slated to run one week. For tickets ($10) or more information on Hospital call (212) 807 9300.

-- By Sean McGrath