Some small towns are so removed from civilzation that they have deer crossing signs. Tiny country hamlet Parthanon, however, has a ducks crossing sign, giving Jan Shepard's new comedy its title.

Ducks Crossing, directed by Julie Hamberg (Rain From Heaven, Post Punk Life), plays the Vital Theatre Company Jan. 10-27. Opening night is Jan. 14.

The only other thing of note in Parthanon is the Pool Hall, owned and operated by Minnie Evans, until one of the town's inhabitants make a bid for it. That single action unleashes a torennt of activity, involving a drunken confession, a mail order philosophy course, a pig and a mystery person who has haunted Parthanon for the last 60 years.

Playwright Shepard's other works include Nine, Strange Grace, One Molecule, Prelude to Walking and God Is a Dyke.

Ducks Crossing features Anna Ewing Bull, Tasha Guevara, G.R. Johnson, Tom Johnson, Jon Krupp, Carolyn Popp, George Sheffey, Casey Stewart-Lindley, Mark Watson and Katherine Gooch. Tickets are $15. Vital Theatre Company is located at 432 West 42nd Street on the third floor. For reservations, call (212) 592-0129. The Vital Theatre Company is on the web at http://www.vitaltheatre.org.

— By Christine Ehren