<i> That’s </i> Trendy

Marlee Matlin, the hearing-impaired actress who won a best-actress Oscar for “Children of a Lesser God” (1987), has taken a “small part”--only two weeks work--in “The Linguini Incident.” And producer Arnold Orgolini still seems bowled over that he’s landed Matlin--and other name talent--for his “under $4-million” picture.

When “Linguini” begins filming shortly in downtown L.A., Matlin will join star Rosanna Arquette and co-stars David Bowie, Kelly Lynch, Andre Gregory and Shelley Winters.

Argolini credits “wonderful material” for attracting actors and crew willing to work at “considerably less” than their usual rates.

The romantic comedy, written by Tamar Brott and director Richard Shephard, has Arquette as a waitress in an ultra-trendy L.A. restaurant. Along with a girlfriend (Lynch), she gets involved with a British bartender (Bowie) desperately seeking a green card--through marriage to a Yank.

Matlin plays a cashier in the boite. How trendy is it?

“So trendy,” Orgolini says, “that she has her own interpreter.”