Although it's not set to open until Oct. 20, the Off-Broadway production of Nicky Silver's Fit to be Tied at Playwrights Horizons has nearly sold out its scheduled limited engagement, and has extended its run to Nov. 10.

Starring Jean Smart, T. Scott Cunningham, Dick Latessa and Matt Kesslar, the new comedy by Nicky Silver has been garnering good word of mouth since previews began Sept. 20. The production's preview period has been exceptionally rocky, with medical ailments suffered by cast members Smart (a broken ankle) and Cunningham (an emergency appendectomy). Given these setbacks, Fit's opening was postponed from the 15th to the 20th.

In Nicky Silver's followup to his Off-Broadway hit The Food Chain, Cunningham plays the heir to a frozen food fortune who takes in his neurotic mother (Smart) and a refugee angel from the Radio City Christmas show (Kesslar).

Following several difficult years under former artistic director Don Scardino, Playwrights Horizons, the originator of such major 1980's works as The Heidi Chronicles, Driving Miss Daisy, and Marvin's Room, seems poised to have one of its biggest hits in years. Given that Playwrights' next production, Jose Rivera's Cloud Tectonics, isn't scheduled to begin previews until Dec. 13, further extensions for Fit seem likely. Asked if a commercial transfer is in the works, press representative Tom D'Ambrosio stated that producers have been by to see the show, but no decision is likely until after reviews are out.

For tickets or information call (212) 279-4200. -- By Andrew Ku