Travels With My Aunt, Giles Havergal's adaptation of Graham Greene's picaresque novel about a dull bachelor pulled into the wild, dangerous world of his flamboyant aunt, will open at San Francisco's American Conservatory Theatre Jan. 2.

Winner of a 1995 New York Drama Desk Award for unique theatrical experience, Travels is played by four male actors portraying more than 20 roles: Ken Ruta, Geoff Hoyle, Charles Dean and Bryan Close. Havergal, artistic director of the Citizen's Theatre in Glasgow (where the piece premiered in 1989), will direct the American Conservatory production. The show begins opens Jan. 8 and runs through Feb 2.

Sets and costumes for Aunt are by Stewart Laing, lighting by Mimi Jordan Sherin and sound by Stephen LeGrand.

For tickets ($14-$47.50) and information on Travels With My Aunt at ACT's Geary Theatre space on Geary Street, call (415) 749-2228. On Jan. 9, the theatre will offer a special "Bring What You Can/Pay What You Wish" incentive, wherein patrons will be allowed to pay any amount for tickets when they bring in "at least one can of tuna or a box of instant mashed potatoes" to donate to Project Open Hand.

In Aunt- related events, Jan. 6 will bring a free A.C.T. Perspectives Symposium titled, "From Page To Stage - Theatrical Adaptations From Literature." Playwright Erik Ehn and Havergal will participate. Havergal will also be onhand for "Audience Exchanges" after the shows on Jan. 14, 19 and 22. --By David Lefkowitz