The Ohio University School of Theater's 1998-99 season will get underway tonight in humorous fashion with the world premiere of Anita Gabrosek's Disengaged, a romantic comedy about the trials and tribulations of dating in the '90s.

Disengaged centers around Rebecca and Jess, a pair of 32-year-old best friends who are both looking for their own Adonis. They also both feel trapped by the people in their lives - Rebecca by her unfaithful, cocky boyfriend Neil, Jess by his traditional, demanding mother Vivian.

As they grow ever more despondent with their pathetic love lives, Rebecca's and Jess's relationship with each other strengthens. Eventually they come to a revelation: they should marry each other. The story follows the hardships of this unconventional arrangement, all the while providing an entertaining and somewhat different take on the difficulties involved with playing the dating game.

Disengaged is Gabrosek's first script as a playwright, according to a news release. A spring graduate of OU, Gabrosek developed the story nearly two years ago in a play writing workshop class.

Currently she is serving as a visiting professor in the School of Theater while she completes a M.F.A. degree in film.

Gabrosek said her impetus for the story line came after talking to a 30-something friend of hers who was obsessed with finding the perfect mate.

"The play is about a woman who is lonely and desperate to find a mate and get married, especially since she's in her thirties and her clock is ticking," Gabrosek said. "It's also about friendship - what makes a friendship and how difficult it is to keep it."

Disengaged is directed by Vincent J. Cardinal, director of the school of theater and head of the professional dramatic writing program at OU.

He said Gabrosek's script captures the neuroses and problems of what he calls the "Jan" generation (named after the middle Brady child)-those people who fall between the Baby Boomers and Generation X.

"Anita is very funny," Cardinal said. "She captures the kind of screwed up aspect of that generation quite well. The play leaves you feeling good about the people you know."

Disengaged begins a four-day run today in the Virginia Hahne Theater.

Each night's performance will begin at 8 p.m., with an additional 2 p.m. matinee performance on Saturday. Tickets can by purchased at the Kantner Hall ticket office today through Friday, 11:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.