A side-splitting comedy is coming to 91原创 this month with Theatre in the Country鈥檚 upcoming production of Michael Frayn鈥檚 Noises Off.

Noises Off is described as a 鈥減lay within a play,鈥� and audiences have been enjoying it since it first opened in London in 1988.

It opens as a dress rehearsal for a show called Nothing On, and the actors begin to struggle with technicalities, artistic quarrels and interpersonal relationships.

91原创鈥檚 Jacq Ainsworth is directing the show and explains the production is a farce.

鈥淔arce is a classic British Genre, thriving on timing, sight gags, and innuendo. Dramatic irony, often used in situation comedies, means that often only the audience knows the whole story and is dying to see if the characters will ever come to understand each other.鈥�

Jacq elaborated that since the show is a 鈥渇arce about a theatre company who is trying to put on a farce,鈥� there are many mistaken moments, attempted revenge, and constant exits and entrances through 13 different doors.

鈥淭ruly anything could 鈥� and does 鈥� go wrong,鈥� she added.

Despite being a comedy, putting the show together has many technical challenges, due to the 鈥渟trict structure of farce,鈥� according to Jacq.

鈥淭here鈥檚 only one way to do it, and it [farce] is like a math problem so it鈥檚 extremely satisfying when everything鈥檚 in the right place. The pace has to be exact, the comedic timing has to be exact, there are conventional comedic bits that are familiar and expected so you have to do it properly,鈥� explained Jacq.

Jacq, who holds a theatre degree from the University of British Columbia, started performing and directing with Theatre in the Country approximately three years ago, and said her cast in Noises Off has 鈥渕agnificently risen to the challenge of this play.鈥�

鈥淭he discipline required to pull off all the complex timing and the physicality of the work is tremendous, and this incredibly gifted cast certainly has both.鈥�

Jacq is accompanied off-stage by her mother June Ainsworth, who agrees Noises Off is one of the 鈥渇unniest鈥� comedies.

June works as assistant stage manager and scenic painter for the show, and has been involved in community theatre for more than 30 years as an actor, director, sound and set designer.

鈥淚t is a treat to watch my daughter Jacq take up the reigns in such a professional manner. I know this production will be great fun for all,鈥� said June.

Jacq added she often works with her mother on shows.

鈥淚t鈥檚 good because we have very high standards so we expect a lot out of each other,鈥� Jacq said.

Noises Off marks the opening of Theatre in the Country鈥檚 7th season.

鈥淲e are so pleased to have found a permanent home in 91原创,鈥� says artistic director Reg Parks.

鈥淲e had a wonderful year in 2018 getting settled and established in our new venue, and we are looking forward to a great run of shows in 2019.鈥�

Theatre in the Country is the only classic dinner theatre in the Lower Mainland, and it originally began in Maple Ridge before moving to its home at the 91原创 Vineyard Church in 2018, where five shows are hosted a year.

鈥淭he church has been very gracious to us,鈥� explained Parks.

鈥淭hey have opened their doors, allowed us to make changes to the space, and have shown that they are a great supporter of the arts. We are very pleased to have found this as our new home.鈥�

Parks and his team at Theatre in the Country added raised seating, a place for the buffet, and extended the church鈥檚 stage to accommodate their productions.

Doors open on Valentine鈥檚 Day on Thursday, Feb. 14, and run until Saturday, Mar. 2 at 5708 Glover Rd.

Tickets and a complete schedule of show times can be found online: , or by calling the box office at 604-259-9737,

For those interested in being part of future Theatre in the Country productions, the organization is holding auditions for Deathtrap on Tuesday, Feb. 5 and Thursday, Feb. 7, and auditions for Little Women 鈥� The Musical on Sunday, Feb. 17 and Monday, Feb. 18.

More information on roles, audition requirements, and sign-up can be found online: