It's opening night for the first of six performances of "Screwball Comedy" being presented by Cochrane's Take a Bow Theatre.

The play was written by Norman Foster, Canada's most prolific playwright, as a homage to screwball comedies of days gone by. It's full of snappy period dialogue, outrageous characters, and humour that packs a punch.

"It's funny, it's entertainment," says Bart Farkas, president of Take a Bow who also appears in the production. "You won't be left sitting there wondering why you came." 

There are performances of the two-act romantic comedy from Friday to Sunday both this week and next. Curtain time on Fridays and Saturdays is 7 p.,m., and it's a 2 p.m. matinee show on Sundays.

The fictional piece is set in 1938 when newly laid-off perfumier Mary Hayes is trying to break into the male-dominated world of newspaper journalism. Editor-in-Chief Bosco Godfrey sets a competition between his egotistical star reporter Jeff Kincaid and plucky Mary, assigning them to cover a society wedding. If Jeff writes the better story, he gets to keep his job. If Mary wins, she will replace the ace newshound.

To keep with the time period, the play uses the slang of the day that might be unfamiliar to some.

You'll hear expressions, like  'What in the Sweet Sound of Satchmo is going on here!.' Or, 'I can't believe I met this big galoot.'

"I'm 56, so I'm old enough to know people who use that language," Farkas chuckles.

Take a Bow is a nonprofit community theatre company with all members of the crew and cast connected to Cochrane.

Both DeannaMae Lloyd and Farkas play three roles each, which is part of the design of the play. Adam Jamieson is Jeff Kincaid, and Genine Asress is Mary Hayes. It's directed by Cherie Dianne Casalyn, Zoe Farrel is stage manager, the tech is Guy Farrell, and Kathy and Greg Haupt were in charge of the stage design.

Tickets are just $20, a steal of a deal for live theatre, and can be purchased online here in advance or at the door. It's cash only at the door.

Take a Bow