How many opportunities do American theatregoers get to see August Strindberg's The Dance of Death twice in one season? Rarely, we'd wager, but this is one of them. Death will begin performances at Jean Cocteau Repertory on Feb. 8 for a run through May 12.

The first Dance of Death production of the season, in case you were hibernating during the fall, was on Broadway with Ian McKellen and Helen Mirren as the play's dueling husband and wife.

Cocteau's staging will star Craig Smith as the vainglorious, aging and slightly mad Captain, who lives in near isolation on a military island off the coast of Sweden with his shrewish, embittered wife, Alice, played by Elise Stone. Their eternal sniping at each other is temporarily interrupted by the entrance of a figure from their past.

The drama should be familiar—but, one hopes, not too familiar—to Smith and Stone, who have been married for many years. "Whether it's early 20th century Scandinavia, or 21st century New York, some things never change," said Smith in a statement. "The dynamics of these two people were charted long ago."

Also in the cast is Jason Crowl, as Kurt. Karen Lordi directs. Tickets are $15-$40. For information call (212) 677-0060 or consult www.jeancocteau.org.