A mexican standoff pits gunman against gunman in a no-win situation where a gun is pointed at each person, as in the ending of Quentin Tarantino's "Reservoir Dogs." The standoff in Matthew Cowles' Mexican Standoff at Fat Squaw Springs sets aged Romeo and Juliet, Chicki Fennelli and Loddie Duchense, against their own children in a comic attempt to claim their love for one another, despite the younger generation's determination to keep them apart.

Mexican Standoff opens Aug. 3 at Off-off-Broadway's Vital Theatre for a run through the 27th. Masque Theatre Company founder Larry Hunt directs.

Playwright Cowles portrays Fennelli, an energetic 81 year old Italian American, who falls for the younger (73) Creole woman, Duchense (Rosemary Cepeda), after making love to her at the Merry-Vale Senior Residence, where they broke the bed -- and her arm. They must plan to protect their new found passion, however, as their progeny have decided the romance must stop.

A TV and theatre actor, Cowles played Billy Clyde on "All My Children" and Lemon Head on "Law and Order" after playing Broadway with Christopher Walken in Sweet Bird of Youth. He is joined in Mexican Standoff by Judith Annozine, Matt Daniels, Robert English and Cecelia Riddett.

Tickets are $12. The Vital Theatre is located at 432 West 42nd Street. For reservations, call (212) 592-8924. -- By Christine Ehren