The plot is not unfamiliar: a proper, married, middle-aged Englishwoman risking everything for the love of a wild young man. What is unusual in this case is the presentation. Lillian, a drama about romance and second chances, is a solo show written and performed by a man, David Cale. The show is part of Playwrights Horizons' New Theatre Wing series, which has brought such shows as Demonology and The Water Children to the company's second floor studio space in New York.

Cale isn't new to the performance scene. His one-man-shows have included Deep in a Dream of You, Somebody Else's House and the Redthroats. He's also a regular on the New York theatre scene, from Broadway's Present Laughter to Off-Broadway's My Night With Reg, The Fastest Clock in the Universe and Curtains.

Lillian, opening June 15 after starting previews June 9, will be directed by Joe Mantello, who staged Love! Valour! Compassion! and Proposals on Broadway, and got a Tony nomination for his performance in Angels in America.

Dressing Lillian up will be Robert Brill (set) and Beverly Emmons (lighting).

For tickets ($25) and information on Lillian, which runs to June 28 at Playwrights Horizons' Studio Theatre, 416 West 42nd St., call (212) 279-4200. Now 27 years old, Playwrights Horizons is led by artistic director Tim Sanford.

-- By David Lefkowitz