LEWISTON — Courtships can be complicated, and that often leads to some very funny situations. “Beau Jest,” which opens Friday, May 6, on The Public Theatre stage, is just such a show.

“This is a really good play for the whole family,” said director Janet Mitchko.

“I’ve had a lot of fun putting this together,” she said. “It’s sweet and touching, but it’s also filled with laughs.”

Sarah is a nice Jewish girl with a problem. Her parents want her to marry a nice Jewish boy, but she’s in love with a Protestant man named Chris Kringle. To end her parents’ well-intentioned meddling, Sarah pretends to stop dating Chris and hires an actor to play the man of her mother’s dreams. The plan succeeds and her parents fall in love with her “new beau.” But … can Sarah resist doing the same?

New York actress Sarah Corey makes her TPT debut as Sarah Goldman.

Also new to TPT audiences are Philadelphia-based actor Damon Bonetti, who portrays her actor-for-hire boyfriend, Bob; and actor Brian White as her gentile boyfriend.

Sarah arranges for her hired boyfriend to meet her parents and her brother for dinner, and Bob quickly realizes the scope of his role is far greater than he imagined. He’ll have to draw on all of his charm, wit and improvisational skills to pull off this charade.

TPT alumni Bill Van Horn (“Over the River and Through the Woods“) and Marina Re (“Rumors,” “Deathtrap,” “Broadway Bound“) return to TPT as Sarah’s parents, Abe and Miriam Goldman.

Also returning to TPT after his recent role as the Wolf in the theater’s “The Three Little Pigs” is Doug Shapiro in the role of Sarah’s suspicious brother, Joel.

“The great thing about ‘Beau Jest’ is that everyone can relate to the dilemma of trying to please their parents,” Mitchko said. However, Sarah is in a phase of young adulthood where pleasing her parents is in conflict with what she wants for herself.

“Over the course of the play, Sarah learns to transform her relationship with her parents from child-parent to adult-adult. It’s an entertaining and humorous story that offers us a valuable lesson about the importance of leading an authentic life,” Mitchko said.

Rabbi Hillel Katzir of Temple Shalom in Auburn has been helping as technical adviser. Mitchko said his assistance was particularly helpful for the scene of the family’s seder dinner, the traditional Jewish ceremonial meal at Passover.

Mitchko said the rabbi invited Mitchko, who is TPT associate artistic director, and Christopher Schario, TPT artistic director, to the recent seder dinner at Temple Shalom. He helped them understand the seder plate and its six symbolic foods. He also helped with some of the Yiddish phrases in the script, Mitchko said.

“The plot of ‘Beau Jest’ could work in any religion or family situation,” Mitchko said. She noted that she sees similarities relating to the Franco-American population of the Twin Cities.

The set design featuring a single girl’s Chicago apartment is designed by Amber Callahan. Lighting is by Bart Garvey, and costumes are by Kathleen Brown.

James Sherman wrote “Beau Jest” in 1989 and he directed a film of his play, released in 2008 with Lainie Kazan and Tony Daly in the cast.

TPT’s silent auction in the lobby continues through this production, and there will be a Red Sox tickets raffle.

Go and do

WHAT: “Beau Jest”

WHEN: Thursday and Friday, May 6, 12 and 13; at 8 p.m. Saturday, May 7 and 14; and at 2 p.m., Sunday, May 8 and 15. There will also be a 2 p.m. show on Saturday, May 14.

WHERE: The Public Theatre, 31 Maple Street, Lewiston

TICKETS: $18 for adults, $16 for seniors and $5 for children under 18. Call 782-3200.

LEWISTON — Courtships can be complicated, and that often leads to some very funny situations. “Beau Jest,” which opens Friday, May 6, on The Public Theatre stage, is just such a show.

“This is a really good play for the whole family,” said director Janet Mitchko.

“I’ve had a lot of fun putting this together,” she said. “It’s sweet and touching, but it’s also filled with laughs.”

Sarah is a nice Jewish girl with a problem. Her parents want her to marry a nice Jewish boy, but she’s in love with a Protestant man named Chris Kringle. To end her parents’ well-intentioned meddling, Sarah pretends to stop dating Chris and hires an actor to play the man of her mother’s dreams. The plan succeeds and her parents fall in love with her “new beau.” But … can Sarah resist doing the same?

New York actress Sarah Corey makes her TPT debut as Sarah Goldman.

Also new to TPT audiences are Philadelphia-based actor Damon Bonetti, who portrays her actor-for-hire boyfriend, Bob; and actor Brian White as her gentile boyfriend.

Sarah arranges for her hired boyfriend to meet her parents and her brother for dinner, and Bob quickly realizes the scope of his role is far greater than he imagined. He’ll have to draw on all of his charm, wit and improvisational skills to pull off this charade.

TPT alumni Bill Van Horn (“Over the River and Through the Woods“) and Marina Re (“Rumors,” “Deathtrap,” “Broadway Bound“) return to TPT as Sarah’s parents, Abe and Miriam Goldman.

Also returning to TPT after his recent role as the Wolf in the theater’s “The Three Little Pigs” is Doug Shapiro in the role of Sarah’s suspicious brother, Joel.

“The great thing about ‘Beau Jest’ is that everyone can relate to the dilemma of trying to please their parents,” Mitchko said. However, Sarah is in a phase of young adulthood where pleasing her parents is in conflict with what she wants for herself.

“Over the course of the play, Sarah learns to transform her relationship with her parents from child-parent to adult-adult. It’s an entertaining and humorous story that offers us a valuable lesson about the importance of leading an authentic life,” Mitchko said.

Rabbi Hillel Katzir of Temple Shalom in Auburn has been helping as technical adviser. Mitchko said his assistance was particularly helpful for the scene of the family’s seder dinner, the traditional Jewish ceremonial meal at Passover.

Mitchko said the rabbi invited Mitchko, who is TPT associate artistic director, and Christopher Schario, TPT artistic director, to the recent seder dinner at Temple Shalom. He helped them understand the seder plate and its six symbolic foods. He also helped with some of the Yiddish phrases in the script, Mitchko said.

“The plot of ‘Beau Jest’ could work in any religion or family situation,” Mitchko said. She noted that she sees similarities relating to the Franco-American population of the Twin Cities.

The set design featuring a single girl’s Chicago apartment is designed by Amber Callahan. Lighting is by Bart Garvey, and costumes are by Kathleen Brown.

James Sherman wrote “Beau Jest” in 1989 and he directed a film of his play, released in 2008 with Lainie Kazan and Tony Daly in the cast.

TPT’s silent auction in the lobby continues through this production, and there will be a Red Sox tickets raffle.

Go and do

WHAT: “Beau Jest”

WHEN: Thursday and Friday, May 6, 12 and 13; at 8 p.m. Saturday, May 7 and 14; and at 2 p.m., Sunday, May 8 and 15. There will also be a 2 p.m. show on Saturday, May 14.

WHERE: The Public Theatre, 31 Maple Street, Lewiston

TICKETS: $18 for adults, $16 for seniors and $5 for children under 18. Call 782-3200.

An eager-to-please daughter hires an actor to portray a boyfriend her mother will approve of in the family comedy “Beau Jest,” playing May 6 -15 at The Public Theatre in Lewiston. Cast members, from left, are Damon Bonetti, Marina Re and Sarah Corey.