FARMINGTON – Mt. Blue Theater Company will present “The Boys Next Door,” a sensitive and sophisticated comedy, Nov. 6-8 in the school auditorium. The play by Tom Griffin offers a glimpse into the everyday lives of four mentally handicapped men living in a group apartment.

“The Boys Next Door” invites its audience to laugh with the men while delicately pointing out the struggles of their lives.

Arnold (played by Nick Beach) is the obsessive, paranoid ringleader of the group. Lucien (Andreas Wyder) is the most mentally handicapped, even though the government mistakenly disagrees. Norman (Tim Reid) is able to work at a donut shop, but grows fat from it and develops an obsession with keys. Barry (Sam Cohen) is schizophrenic; convinced he is a golf pro, he attempts to give lessons at $1.13 an hour. Jack (Matt West) rounds out the cast as a burned-out, disillusioned caretaker.

A frenzied nighttime rat chase serves as the peak of many comedic scenes, while the shattering emotional high point occurs in a brutal scene between Barry and his abusive father (Matt Allen).

Griffin breaks from reality in two scenes: an uplifting dance sequence and a stirring monologue delivered by Lucien to the audience.

“The Boys Next Door” presents a challenge for both the cast and viewers. For the actors, to overact would make a mockery of the character, while to be too normal would miss the point. Joe Seaward, who has worked with mentally handicapped individuals, attended rehearsal to offer insights into how actors could accurately portray their characters.

For viewers, it is a constant challenge to decide whether to laugh or cry through the duration of the play. The answer: do both.

“The Boys Next Door” allows and invites the audience to laugh and find joy in the boys’ antics. Although some scenes do demand emotional gravity, the overall tone of the play is deliberately optimistic. While the men do have limited minds, their hearts overflow with kindness and compassion.

This play, directed by Deborah Muise, is not recommended for young children due to occasional strong language and a scene of violence.