Coming to WEST one night only, "Different!" is billed as freeform, comic entertainment. Writer and Yankee humorist Rebecca Rule and British memoirist and poet Claire Robson both work diligently to keep one guessing, so the show's advance press is impressionistic: "A two-wild-women show about grannies and changelings; salmon and cowboys; plaid flannel and leather motorcycle jackets; blind mice, justice, and manure."

Baffled but intrigued, I could think of no better way to get a handle on how events will unfold than to let the bi-coastal collaborators do the talking; so I connected the two via a cyber-interview between Robson in remote British Columbia and Rule in even remoter Northwood Narrows.

Says Rule about Robson: "Claire is outrageous. She's loud. She laughs a lot. She makes faces. She twinkles. She says outrageous things just to see how people will react. I liked her the minute I met her. The minute! I can be loud. I love to laugh. I make faces and sometimes say outrageous things just to see how people will react. I think she dresses better than I do. I think she's quite a lot smarter than I am. She's thoughtful and English. I'm not all that thoughtful, and Yankee, with a twist of Irish. She talks funny. I've been married to a man for 30 years (this August). She's a lesbian in a long-term relationship who wouldn't be allowed to get married in most states."

Turning the tables, Robson says about Rule: "I met Becky probably about 10 years ago and was instantly taken with her, despite her cheery smile and conventional demeanor. I saw through that in an instant and realized that she was a total nut. A friend suggested that I 'do something with Rebecca Rule' (while touring the East this summer). I called her up. I'd had too much coffee, and she'd (been) on the root beer, so we talked each other into it on some kind of transcendental caffeine high. You know how teachers tell you that you can't say someone is 'more unique,' only 'unique'? Well, I don't care. Becky's 'more unique.' She doesn't strive to be cool, or literary, or academic. In fact, she defies the categories, she just-is. Becky."

Robson's take on "difference" is this: "I have an anthology of work I've edited for Persea Books coming out. The theme is the outsider, as it applies to teens and adolescents. The stories are by all kinds of writers, about all kinds of marginalized youth.... The interesting thing is that both Becky and I can relate to kids who feel different. We've both experienced life that way, as people who didn't fit in well. I believe that most, if not all, people who write fiction or poetry come from that place. Writing is a form of self-medication for outsiders."

Rule adds: "One of my recurring lines is 'Yankees are very tolerant. We have a lot to put up with.' That is, without difference, there is no tolerance. More than that, we can respect differences, wonder at them, learn from them, enjoy them. At the same time, we can roll our eyes, sigh, wonder why, and say things like 'For the love of God, just get over it!' Differences allow for spirited interaction, which is different from conflict and almost as much fun. Those of us who spend our lives in New Hampshire don't get exposed to a lot of difference. And that's a pity. On the other hand, because we are most of us so alike, we become attuned to small differences, nuances of differences. There are republicans and then there are Republicans. There are natives and then there are people who've buried five generations in the same cemetery. In Concord, I overheard an older woman say to a tall, handsome black man: 'Are you from Nigeria?' 'No,' he said politely, 'I'm from Nashua.' 'Oh,' she said, 'I met a man once who looked like you, and he was from Nigeria.' 'Oh,' he said, politely. And smiled. It was very sweet. And very New Hampshire."

What would Rule and Robson like us to know going into the performance? Robson is reserved, clipped: "I'd like you to know that we share the blame. It was Becky's idea, then she tried to pull out, but I coerced her into hanging in. So we both deserve the rotten tomatoes."

Rule is prolific and hopeful: "This is an evening for all of us to have fun together. Heckling encouraged. (By me, although Claire may not appreciate it-and she'll let you know if you piss her off, in her refined British way.) Since Claire lives in Canada and I live in Northwood, we've been 'rehearsing' via e-mail. So this is not only a new show, but a fresh show, lightly rehearsed and full of possibilities. I wrote a story called 'It Could Have Been Worse' that reflects my attitude about almost everything. When the show is over, I, for one, will smile and say 'Could have been worse.' I hope the audience will be able to say the same. Well, I hope they'll say, 'Couldn't have been better.' But what are the chances of that?"

"Different!" will be at West End Studio Theatre (WEST), 959 Islington St., Portsmouth, Friday, June 24 at 8 p.m. Tickets are $15 and $12. To make reservations, call 603-942-8174.