The bruising, loving, push-me, pull-you relationship between brothers and sisters gets an impressionistic exploration in the world premiere of Sibs, a play for two actors and one musician, at the Tarragon Theatre in Toronto, March 14.

Playwright collaborators Diane Flacks and Richard Greenblatt (2 Pianos, 4 Hands) also star in the piece, which has a frame of siblings looking back at their relationship while dealing with their parents' estate. Previews began March 7 and performances continue to April 16 at Tarragon's Extra Space.

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Physicality and theatricality are stressed in the retelling of a relationship that includes wide-eyed infancy, childhood rivalry, painful adolescence and the responsibility of adulthood.

Composer-musician Rick Sacks, who developed the score in previous workshops with the writers, performs live in the piece. Greenblatt might be best known for his international performance piece, 2 Pianos, 4 Hands, developed with Ted Dykstra. Flacks is a playwright (By a Thread), actress (Tarragon's The Theory of Relatives) and comedy writer ("The Broad Side").

Alisa Palmer directs Sibs, which officially opens March 14 at Tarragon. Designers are Glenn Davidson (set and costumes) and Andrea Lundy (lighting).

Tickets are $12.50-$23. Tarragon is at 30 Bridgman Avenue in Toronto. Call (416) 531-1827 for information.

-- By Kenneth Jones