LEWISTON — The call of loons is again echoing across Golden Pond as Norman and Ethel Thayer return to their beloved lakeside cottage in Maine. That’s the simple beginning of the much-loved play, “On Golden Pond,” which closes out The Public Theatre’s 2011-12 season with a May 4-13 run.

“It’s easy to understand why Maine audiences have fallen in love with the story, said Director Christopher Schario.

“On Golden Pond” is a heartwarming and poignant comedy. It follows the triumphs and difficulties faced by a couple in the twilight years of a long marriage, but it also deals with the complicated relationship between a daughter and her hard-to-please father.

Schario said many people may be familiar with the much-loved film based on the play starring Henry Fonda and Kathryn Hepburn.

“The play is somewhat similar to the film, with a touch more humor,“ Schario said.

The lead roles of Norman and Ethel Thayer are played by real-life husband and wife Mike Genovese and Ellen Crawford.

Genovese portrays crusty-but-kind-hearted Norman Thayer. His extensive television career includes guest starring roles on “E.R,” “Judging Amy,” “Star Trek: Next Generation” and “N.Y.P.D. Blue,” among others.

Genovese was last seen onstage at The Public Theatre in “Orphans,“ and has appeared regularly at various theaters throughout the country.

Appearing with him as his onstage no-nonsense wife Ethel will be his offstage wife Ellen Crawford. She was last seen at The Public Theatre in “The Belle of Amherst” and is most familiar to TV audiences for her role as nurse Lydia Wright on “E.R.” Noted for her film and television work, Crawford is also a familiar face to Los Angeles theater audiences and she enjoys a successful stage career.

Playing the role of their daughter, Chelsea, is Beth Hylton, a newcomer to The Public Theatre stage. Jefferson Slinkard, also a TPT newcomer, plays her fiancé, Bill. Both Hylton and Slinkard are New York actors.

Michael Hardart, who appeared in TPT’s production of “A Month of Sundays,” portrays Charlie, the mailman.

Schario said a young local actor, Scott Venable, appears as Billy, the hard-to-handle 13-year-old son of Chelsea’s fiancé. In the course of the play, a comical and touching bond develops between the young boy and the old man.

Schario said Scott has participated in The Public Theatre’s summer training program for young actors for the past two seasons. The program involves three weeks of intensive training for dedicated aspiring actors in the range of 10-to-16-years old. It includes master acting classes, stage combat, movement, voice and speech, singing and text analysis and the program culminates in a free public performance in late July.

Four slots are still open for TPT’s up-coming Professional Theatre Training Program for Young Actors, Schario said.

Ernest Thompson, author of “On Golden Pond,” spent his summers along the shores of Great Pond, located in Belgrade, Maine, where the play is based.

Tickets for this popular play are already in high demand, Schario said. An additional matinee performance has been added on Saturday, May 12, and he added that “On Golden Pond” is the perfect show to celebrate the coming of Spring, as well as a great gift for Mother’s Day.

During the run of the show, TPT’s Silent Auction, the annual fundraising event in support of the theatre, will be held in the lobby.

“On Golden Pond” will be performed at The Public Theatre, at 7:30 p.m. on Thursdays and Fridays May 4 and 10-11; at 8 p.m. on Saturdays, May 5 and 12; and at 2 p.m. on Sundays, May 6 and 13, as well as 2 p.m. Saturday, May 12.

The Public Theatre is located at Lisbon and Maple Streets in Lewiston.

Tickets are $18 for adults, $5 for youth (18 and under), and there is a group rate of $15 for ten and more. For tickets call The Public Theatre box office at 782-3200. For more information, go online towww.thepublictheatre.org.

GO AND DO

What: “On Golden Pond”

Where: The Public Theatre, corner of Lisbon and Maple streets in Lewiston

When: 7:30 p.m. on Thursdays and Fridays May 4 and 10-11; at 8 p.m. on Saturdays, May 5 and 12; and at 2 p.m. on Sundays, May 6 and 13, as well as 2 p.m. Saturday, May 12.

Tickets:  $18 for adults, $5 for youth (18 and under), and there is a group rate of $15 for 10 and more. For tickets call The Public Theatre box office at 782-3200. For more information, go online to www.thepublictheatre.org.