Dean Novotny's the name, Sissy Fit's his game. Sissy stars this weekend in Novotny's 80-minute stage adaptation of Tennessee Williams' novella, "The Roman Spring of Mrs. Stone." Inspired by the Vivian Leigh-Warren Beatty movie, it focuses on the uptight, lonely emotional life of the wealthy widow as she briefly blossoms under the warmth of an Italian gigolo.

Judging from the dress rehearsal, it hasn't been entirely decided whether to play for pathos or laughs, but an audience will surely opt for the latter. If there were a director, he/she might encourage Sissy to camp it up. At the dress, she was pretty static, as if lost amid inner voices. But moments do catch a mood of middle-aged desperation, particularly as underscored by the moody ministrations of DJ Edgar Ummm and his generic, plaintive movie music.

Michael Higgins' gigolo does surly better than romantic, and Sharon Spell has some bitchy bite as the corrupt Contessa; Laura Hodge plays an American friend. Most unambiguously successful is the period clothing supplied by Richard Parsakian.

At the Hamburg Studio beside City Theatre, South Side; 8 tonight, 2 p.m. tomorrow; $8; info 412-431-CITY.

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