LILY TOMLIN IS OUT THERE.

Byline: Evan Henerson Theater Critic

'I WORRY,'' says Lily Tomlin during one of the rare moments in ``The Search for Signs of Intelligent Life in the Universe'' when the character she plays actually is Lily Tomlin, ``there's always a chance that you might not show up at all.''

Beg your pardon? Us not show up to watch Lily Tomlin? Fat chance.

Audiences flocked to ``The Search'' in the mid-1980s when Tomlin and author/director Jane Wagner first put the piece on stage. They figure to pack the house again, now that Tomlin - who is 62 and as nimble as ever - has revived the performance for a nearly two-month engagement at the Ahmanson Theatre. And if she's still doing ``The Search'' in her 80s, I'll buy a ticket then, too.

It's the kind of performance that neither adapts for new generations of audiences, nor does it age. Space aliens are still coming down to learn earthly wisdom from designer-turned-bag-lady Trudy. And the characters who populate Tomlin's universe are forever rattling around the streets of New York, meeting up with each other at stops along the way.

Young and old, male and female, rich and homeless: Tomlin plays them all. And by now it's not hard to detect that Trudy, the Post-It reliant bag lady; Kate, the WASP-y matron with a terminal case of rich person's boredom (``affluenza''); and punk child Agnus Angst all share the same sense of humor. But it's the kind of double-bite humor that circles back and hooks you again even after you've stopped laughing. A sample (and, no, Wagner's mind-tweaking smartness doesn't translate to print): ``Reality is the leading cause of stress for those in touch with it.''

You don't necessarily need a sickle-sharp mind to come up with - or milk - the ``How do you get to Carnegie Hall?'' joke. (Answer: ``Practice!'') But your timing and execution better be flawless. Even without present-day updates, Wagner's script is as bright as Tomlin's interpretation of it. Segments such as Trudy explaining the difference between a Campbell's soup can and an Andy Warhol painting (``This is soup. This is art'') are now practically part of our pop-cultural lexicon.

Tomlin joyously holds the stage for more than 2 1/2 hours. She is constantly on the move - dancing, aerobicizing and shape shifting. Should you come out slightly winded after seeing a performance, please keep in mind that three days a week, Tomlin does ``The Search'' twice daily.

Like so many solo performances, ``The Search'' may play better in a slightly smaller venue than the Ahmanson. Tomlin is certainly big enough for all houses, and the lighting, smoke and other technical frippery have been ratcheted up to reach the balconies. Still, it would be interesting to see how the show plays in a black box.

The second-act whirlwind tour through the Women's Movement is the only section of ``The Search'' that's starting to show its age. It's still a feat (the entire show is), but the jokes and references seemed a lot more immediate in the 1980s. It was during that segment on opening night that Tomlin experienced a cough, forcing her to break character to get a drink of water.

``Let's keep this to ourselves,'' she told the audience. ``If Actors' Equity learns that I've broken the fourth wall, I could lose my card.''

The moment was vintage Tomlin: In character or unscripted, within the structure of ``The Search'' or just shooting the breeze, the lady can flat-out entertain.

THE SEARCH FOR SIGNS OF INTELLIGENT LIFE IN THE UNIVERSE - Three and one half stars

Where: Ahmanson Theatre, 135 N. Grand Ave., Los Angeles.

When: 8 p.m. Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Fridays; 2 and 8 p.m. Thursdays and Saturdays; 2 and 7:30 p.m. Sundays. Through July 6.

Tickets: $20 to $60. Call [phone].

In a nutshell: If you think this is a feat, imagine having to perform it twice in one day.

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Lily Tomlin returns in ``The Search for Signs of Intelligent Life in the Universe'' through July 6 at the Ahmanson Theatre.