Anyone who remembers the dearth of positive lesbian and gay literature, in the days before Stonewall, will recall the exception offered by the novels written under the name Ann Bannon-"Odd Girl Out" (1957), "I Am a Woman" and "Women in the Shadows" (1959), "Journey to a Woman" and "The Marriage" (concerning unwitting heterosexual incest, but including some of the lesbian and gay figures) (1960), and "Beebo Brinker" (1962)-in which characters live and love, but don't have to face the then-customary 'retribution' of suicide or homicide at the end.

The Hourglass Group's production of Kate Moira Ryan and Linda S. Chapman's play "The Beebo Brinker Chronicles," drawing on the 1959 books and the first of the 1960 books, set mostly in the West Village, directed by Leigh Silverman, and playing at the Fourth Street Theatre, 83 East Fourth Street, through October 28, brings a welcome opportunity to acquaint, or reacquaint, oneself with Bannon's characters and the drama and humor of their overlapping romantic triangles, for as swaggering butch Beebo Brinker says, "End of soap opera. Beginning of soap opera. That's all the Village is, ... just one crazy little soap opera after another ... [a]ll tangled up with each other."

In the 90-minute play, performed, without intermission, by an excellent ensemble, Laura (Marin Ireland) loves Beth (Autumn Domfeld), who won't leave Charlie (Bill Dawes) for her. Laura comes to New York to find herself and meets Marcie (Carolyn Baeumler), the flirtatious heterosexual who becomes her roommate; Jack (David Greenspan), the gay man who will play a big part in her life; and, at gay/lesbian hangout the Cellar, handsome lady killer Beebo (Anna Foss Wilson). Could Laura find happiness with Jack? Will Beth and Laura ever find each other again? Can Beebo find with Beth what she lost in dumping Laura? These are questions the play raises and, up to a point, strives to answer.

Growing from skittish to assured as Laura, Ireland turns in a well-rounded performance. Wilson is as compelling a Beebo as one would want and Domfield as volatile as Beth should be. Greenspan delivers the expected warmth. Versatile Baeumler portrays not just Marcie, Laura's hopeless crush, but also Beebo's bitchy ex, Lili, and Nina, whose lesbian novel fuels Beth's dream. Dawes, portraying a clueless Charlie, doubles as Burr, Marcie's boyfriend. The unit set is by Rachel Hauck, the 1950s costumes by Theresa Squire.

Remaining performances, at this writing, are on October 18, 19, 20, 22, 24 & 27 at 7 pm, 24 & 28 at 3 pm, and 26 & 27 at 10 pm. Tickets, at $35, are available at www.beebobrinker.com or by calling 212/352-3101.