Welcome to Tuna, Texas - Population: 2.

Sort of.

For more than 20 years, Greater Tuna, the tale of a small Texas town and the colorful souls that inhabit it, has entertained theater audiences. Known as much for its gimmick - two actors play 20 roles, both male and female - as its sharp observational humor, Tuna challenges actors and audience alike with a verbal comedy that is intensely physical.

A production of the play opens Friday at Le Chat Noir, 304 Eighth St.

The play, which progresses from vignette to vignette loosely bound by the story of a judge found dead under less-than-dignified circumstances, requires the cast to shift quickly from character to character, with a costume change accompanying each transition. One minute an actor might play a tall-in-his-boots Lone Star lawman, the next a harried housewife with teen troubles. Giving each character a consistency and sense of individuality can be difficult, said Scott Hinds, one of the two Chat players.

"It's tough to segregate," he said. "I'm always thinking about what comes next, how I'm going to do it and changing costumes at the same time. The costumes help. It's a kind of physical cue."

The rapid changes, accomplished in an ad hoc backstage area disguised as a bigger-than-Texas state flag, required malleable modesty - assistance is often required - and an ability to regulate stress.

John Hutchens, the other Tuna townie, said it often requires an outside influence to keep a cool head.

"You do go a little crazy," he said. "Richard (Justice, the production's director) is always preaching the importance of keeping calm and not rushing."

Selected for both the script and minimal set requirements, Mr. Justice said Tuna was chosen because it fits well with Le Chat Noir's intimate performance space and will surprise audiences who have become accustomed to the theater's more politically charged fare.

"When we first chose this piece, I hadn't seen it," he said. "But I knew about it and I knew how it worked. I knew it was two people and I knew it would fit well in this space. I also knew that a straight, broad comedy with no message would be a departure. We felt it would be good, at this point, to show people that we could do things like this as well."