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In this period of divisiveness, uncertainty and fear, the Bigfork Community Players will be opening their theater season with comedy.

“Laughter on the 23rd Floor,” written by Neil Simon, will open Friday, Oct. 14, for six performances over two weekends. All shows will be given at the Bigfork Center for the Performing Arts.

“My character comments that, ‘All humor is based in hostility,’” said David Vale, who plays Russian immigrant Val Skolsky. “I don’t know that I agree with that, but this comedy is embedded in the hostilities of the Cold War: The fear of Communism, and the at times greater fear of the fear of Communism. It’s interesting how the threats change, but fear and our reactions to it are timeless.”

“Laughter on the 23rd Floor” is a fictionalized retrospective of Simon’s early days as a comedy writer. The story chronicles comedy writing near the beginning of television and the atomic age. “Laughter” exposes the crazy, male-dominated business of comedy writing in the 1950s, finding humor in the boom years following World War II mixed with the overarching threat of the nuclear age and the paranoid xenophobia that attended the rise of communism. In this no-holds-barred look behind the scenes of a hit variety show, audiences will see the writers in all their struggles — both real and imagined — and learn that in what some might consider dark times, the comedic spirit triumphs.

“This show just made me belly-laugh as I read through it,” said Director Michele Shapero. “As a writer of comedy, his productivity in writing funny plays is unparalleled. And this one, where he’s being funny about being funny, well it’s really a double dose of humor.”

Audiences can expect some familiar faces in the cast, which includes Vale, Scott Roskam, Duane Herriges, John Beaubien, Meghan Sistok, John Goroski, Stephanie Brost and L.E. Kalstein. The lead character, Lucas Brickman, is Simon’s fictionalized version of himself, and will be played by newcomer Bryan Zipp.

“This is my first real theater production, and it’s going really well so far,” Zipp said. “The whole cast has been very supportive, and I’m just happy to be here ... I’m having a lot of fun.”

Zipp and Shapero said the production should appeal to a wide variety of audiences, but particularly those who enjoyed 1950s comedy in real time.

“This is based on Simon’s work on Sid Caesar’s ‘Show of Shows,’ which a lot of people will remember,” Shapero said. “It gives us an inside look at his experiences in the writers’ room.”

“Personally, I think it’s a really funny show,” Zipp said.

“Laughter on the 23rd Floor” performances are Oct. 14-15, 21-22 at 7:30 p.m. and Oct. 16 and 23 at 2 p.m. Tickets are $15 for adults, $10 for students and seniors, and $5 for children younger than 12. Advance tickets are available at Bigfork Drug, the Pocketstone Cafe, the Kalispell Grand Hotel, online at www.bigforkcommunityplayers.com. Tickets will also be sold at the door.

Shapero cautioned that the production does contain adult language, “so for anyone younger than 13, it’s the parents’ call” whether it is appropriate.

“We were reluctant to try [this play] because it contains a bit of bad language,” Vale said. “But with the success of ‘Rumors’ a couple of years ago, we learned that Bigfork audiences will accept impolite words when they enhance and color the story.”

“Laughter on the 23rd Floor” is just the beginning for the Bigfork Community Players this season. The company will also be performing “A Christmas Carol” as a radio show in November, “Murder on the Nile” in February and “Panache” in April.

All performances throughout the year are given at the Bigfork Center for the Performing Arts, 526 Electric Ave., Bigfork.

For more information, visit www.bigforkcommunityplayers.com or www.facebook.com/bigforkcommunitytheater.

Entertainment editor Stefanie Thompson can be reached at 758-4439 or ThisWeek@dailyinterlake.com.

In this period of divisiveness, uncertainty and fear, the Bigfork Community Players will be opening their theater season with comedy.

“Laughter on the 23rd Floor,” written by Neil Simon, will open Friday, Oct. 14, for six performances over two weekends. All shows will be given at the Bigfork Center for the Performing Arts.

“My character comments that, ‘All humor is based in hostility,’” said David Vale, who plays Russian immigrant Val Skolsky. “I don’t know that I agree with that, but this comedy is embedded in the hostilities of the Cold War: The fear of Communism, and the at times greater fear of the fear of Communism. It’s interesting how the threats change, but fear and our reactions to it are timeless.”

“Laughter on the 23rd Floor” is a fictionalized retrospective of Simon’s early days as a comedy writer. The story chronicles comedy writing near the beginning of television and the atomic age. “Laughter” exposes the crazy, male-dominated business of comedy writing in the 1950s, finding humor in the boom years following World War II mixed with the overarching threat of the nuclear age and the paranoid xenophobia that attended the rise of communism. In this no-holds-barred look behind the scenes of a hit variety show, audiences will see the writers in all their struggles — both real and imagined — and learn that in what some might consider dark times, the comedic spirit triumphs.

“This show just made me belly-laugh as I read through it,” said Director Michele Shapero. “As a writer of comedy, his productivity in writing funny plays is unparalleled. And this one, where he’s being funny about being funny, well it’s really a double dose of humor.”

Audiences can expect some familiar faces in the cast, which includes Vale, Scott Roskam, Duane Herriges, John Beaubien, Meghan Sistok, John Goroski, Stephanie Brost and L.E. Kalstein. The lead character, Lucas Brickman, is Simon’s fictionalized version of himself, and will be played by newcomer Bryan Zipp.

“This is my first real theater production, and it’s going really well so far,” Zipp said. “The whole cast has been very supportive, and I’m just happy to be here ... I’m having a lot of fun.”

Zipp and Shapero said the production should appeal to a wide variety of audiences, but particularly those who enjoyed 1950s comedy in real time.

“This is based on Simon’s work on Sid Caesar’s ‘Show of Shows,’ which a lot of people will remember,” Shapero said. “It gives us an inside look at his experiences in the writers’ room.”

“Personally, I think it’s a really funny show,” Zipp said.

“Laughter on the 23rd Floor” performances are Oct. 14-15, 21-22 at 7:30 p.m. and Oct. 16 and 23 at 2 p.m. Tickets are $15 for adults, $10 for students and seniors, and $5 for children younger than 12. Advance tickets are available at Bigfork Drug, the Pocketstone Cafe, the Kalispell Grand Hotel, online at www.bigforkcommunityplayers.com. Tickets will also be sold at the door.

Shapero cautioned that the production does contain adult language, “so for anyone younger than 13, it’s the parents’ call” whether it is appropriate.

“We were reluctant to try [this play] because it contains a bit of bad language,” Vale said. “But with the success of ‘Rumors’ a couple of years ago, we learned that Bigfork audiences will accept impolite words when they enhance and color the story.”

“Laughter on the 23rd Floor” is just the beginning for the Bigfork Community Players this season. The company will also be performing “A Christmas Carol” as a radio show in November, “Murder on the Nile” in February and “Panache” in April.

All performances throughout the year are given at the Bigfork Center for the Performing Arts, 526 Electric Ave., Bigfork.

For more information, visit www.bigforkcommunityplayers.com or www.facebook.com/bigforkcommunitytheater.

Entertainment editor Stefanie Thompson can be reached at 758-4439 or ThisWeek@dailyinterlake.com.