“The Dining Room”, opening Thursday, Oct. 15th at Centre 64 in Kimberley, offers theater-goers a five course meal without leaving your seat. There is a sampling that satisfies all tastes — some comedy, some political savvy, some singing, some emotional dishes and even some on stage dessert and it all takes place in a magnificent Southern home dining room.

The Off Centre Players, formerly called Kimberley Community Theatre, have met a challenge face-on. The author, AR Gurney incorporates 59 characters in his story. These 59 different characters are played by seven of our local thespians. This is truly amazing! The play was first produced in the Playwrights Horizons theatre in New York City in 1981 but the themes introduced are common in 2009. It is classed as a Comedy of Manners and is set in the throes of Georgia with its accents, Southern Belles and authorative males.

The characters have been able to change from young children with all their uncontrolled energy to the slow-moving elderly. They have gone from depression days up to today. They have tackled many problems common to all, such as government blasting, class distinctions, vanishing cultures and love triangles revealed.

This is done with clever costuming. Thanks to Joanne Wilkinson! It pays to own a plain black dress!

This is done with expertise in body language, facial expressions and voice changes. First time solo-director, Sioban Staplin has truly put her explosive energy into this facet. Every character has made an honest attempt of transferring from character to character and are to be complimented in their accomplishments in this challenge.

Although the whole play never leaves the dining room, it is fast-moving, often explosive, sometimes family-like and other times, quieter. The contrasts are well-developed. From the fun of happy hour to the more serious times of funeral planning, the audience is kept in the story by the fast entries and exits.

Local actors and actresses meeting these challenges include Brad Perrin, Adrienne Fossheim, Cameron Lomon, Lisa MacKay, Tylene Turner, Dustin Mousseau, and Brigitte Franyo. Other backgrounders offering their talents include Terry Macham, Lorne Wright, and Andrew Fossheim.

The play will be staged at 7:30 pm on Oct. 16, and 17 this week and on 21, 22, 23, and 24 next week. A tip of my hat to the Off Centre players who are all volunteers. Live theatre in Kimberley is alive because of them. Remember that every show is different when it is alive production so come and see for yourself. Tickets are available at Kimberley Visitors Centre.

Congratulations, Sioban and your cast and crew! Go break a leg!