What producer David J. Hoffman calls "the purest form of the theater" is coming to Tierney's Tavern,  representing several New Jersey playwrights, actors and directors.

For eight nights over four consecutive weekends, Cafe Theatre, the ensemble group founded by Hoffman, will present "Close Shave," a quick-paced serices of eight ten-minute comedies, at this popular night spot and eatery.

Ten-minute plays are growing in popularity across the country; audiences are finding them to be enormously enjoyable because of the variety and intimacy typically associated with them. Now, through Hoffman's efforts, Montclair, already a leading cultural center among New Jersey towns, is joining the exclusive club.

"There will be very few theatrical conventions to get in the way of our storytelling," stated Hoffman in an e-mail to The Times. "No spotlights, no torch songs, no arty monologues. Just funny, thought-provoking stories written and directed by talented professionals, and performed by skilled actors."

Among the eight plays to be shown are "Suicide Squeeze" by Sid Frank, about a man who becomes suicidal after the Yankees lose the pennant, and "For Better," by Greg Scot Mihalik, about a wife who resorts to extreme measures to get her husband to stop smoking.

Hoffman previous produced the popular Theatre Cafe series at 12 Miles West Theatre Company in Bloomfield and most recently produced a series of plays at the George Street Playhouse in New Brunswick.

"Close Shave" will be performed April 21, 22, 28, and 29, and May 5, 6, 12, and 13, at 7:30 p.m., at Tierney's Tavern, 136-138 Valley Road.

General admission is $15; $10 for seniors and students.

For more information, contact David Hoffman at (908) 403-1838, or JTW Public Relations at jtwagency@comcast.net.