Butler Little Theatre opens its 79th season with a comedy about Shakespeare's play Macbeth.

“The Farndale Avenue Housing Estate Townswomen's Guild Dramatic Society's Production of Macbeth” is a mashup by William Shakespeare, David McGillivray and Walter Zerlin Jr.

The ladies of the Farndale Avenue Housing Estate Townswomen's Guild Dramatic Society are staging yet another assault on the classics with a startlingly original production of “Macbeth” in the hopes of getting them to the Welwyn Garden City Finals.

Under the carefully mascaraed eye of adjudicator George Peach, all events conspire hilariously against them.

BLT production director Bob Meals and producers Danyle Verzinski and Karen O'Donnell are gearing up the cast for some hilarity and hijinx. Many of the actors play multiple roles and even handle the props and costume changes on stage.

Bonnie Cahill, of Jefferson Township, returns to the stage for the season opener.

“My character is Mrs. Reece a quintessential committee woman, born to cajole, flatter and wheedle anyone into anything, and denser than two bricks. She loves being in on everything, and wants everyone to be happy with everything,” Cahill said.

Though no stranger to the stage, Cahill said “keeping a straight face is my biggest challenge. My character is so sincere, she doesn't even see the preposterousness of what goes on,” Cahill explained.

The show is special to the actors for a variety of reasons, but for Cahill it's all about sharing.

“It's a show where you laugh with the cast, not at them, which makes it shared laughter, and you walk out grinning and happy,” she said.

Playing the role of Dawn is Lorraine Martin of Butler Township.

Martin described her character as “kind of flighty, accident-prone, and easily frustrated.

“Anytime there is a lot of physical comedy involved, it is a challenge because a lot depends on timing and cooperation with castmates to get it right and create the desired effect,” she said.

Martin says padding helps protect her joints during this production.

In the role of Felicity is Amy Cannard of Chicora.

“Felicity is a typical small-town Englishwoman who is playing several roles within her ladies' group production of 'Macbeth,' including a witch and a murderer, perhaps a little out of her league,” said Cannard.

She also cited the show's physical comedy as one of the challenges.

“It's been awhile since I've done a show with so much physical comedy, as well as the challenge of learning 'normal' spoken lines in addition to the Shakespearean texts,” she said.

Cannard noted the show is full of laughter — a word not often associated with “Macbeth.”

Mea Hunter of Butler is portraying the character Kate, whom she calls “a real trooper.”

“However, nine months of rehearsals doesn't seem to be enough for her to learn her cues,” said Hunter, who claims her biggest hurdle is maneuvering with multiple appliances.

Hunter relies on past personas to bring a variety of voices to the stage, she said.

She had a unique preparation method for her character. “I rewatched season 2 of 'Slings and Arrows' in which they did a production of 'Macbeth,'” she said.

The show also features Dennis Whalen, Grant Allen Clark, Amy Evans, Phil Ball and Phoenix Kelly.

WHO: Butler Little TheatreWHAT: “The Farndale Avenue Housing Estate Townswomen's Guild Dramatic Society's Production of Macbeth”WHEN: Oct. 4 to 12, at 8 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays, 2:30 p.m. Sunday, and 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Wednesday and ThursdayWHERE: BLT, One Howard St.TICKETS: $13 online at BLTgroup.org or at the door 45 minutes prior to curtain when available