Previews for the work starring Betsey Aidem, Noel Joseph Allain, Aylsia Reiner, John Rothman, Sarah Megan Thomas and Jeffrey Woodard — under the direction of Kevin O'Rourke — began Jan. 19. The limited engagement will run through Feb. 9 at the Weller.

Tender, according to press notes, "takes place in a city full of chance encounters. Al loves Hen, but now there is a baby on the way and everything looks different. Gloria loves Marvin, but one day he walked out and disappeared. And Hen's friend Tash just loves a laugh and a drink. In this world of fast talk and hard sell, how much faith can we put in other people?"

The creative team for Tender includes set designer Kevin Judge, lighting designer Lilly Fossner, costume designer Alixandra Gage Englund and sound designer Arielle Edwards.

In addition to Tender Abi Morgan has penned Splendour, the HBO series "Tsunami; The Aftermath," "Sex Traffic" and the script for the upcoming film "Brick Lane." She is currently adapting the 1993 Sebastian Faulk novel "Birdsong" for film treatment. For its London premiere, Tender earned Morgan a nomination for the 2002 Laurence Olivier Theatre Award for Most Promising Playwright.

Tender plays the Michael Weller Theatre, located in Manhattan at 311 West 43rd Street. Tickets, priced $18, are available by visiting www.smartTix.com or by phoning (212) 868-4444.