Join PAPA during performances of “Don’t Dress for Dinner” at The Plaza For 80 shows — that’s right 80 shows, the Plaza Alliance for the Performing Arts has been putting on quality performances for the Lake Country.

The upcoming play, “Don’t Dress for Dinner” marks that 80th production, and it will be no different than the others.

“We are so grateful that PAPA has been able to overcome a few challenges over the years, i.e., changing venues quite often in the early years, needing directors, and securing rights for special productions,” Dottie McClain, PAPA chair said. “But here we are, still at our game: playing on stage. We are so grateful to the many people who have worked with us as actors, production crew, and sometimes as both.”

“Don’t Dress for Dinner” has a veteran cast of several returning PAPA players and is directed by two of the longest-standing PAPA directors, Dennis McClain and Sarah Daly Weir.

“Don’t Dress for Dinner” by Marc Camoletti, adapted by Robin Hawdon, premiered in Paris in 1987. Originally written in French, the play is an adaptation of a two-act play entitled “Pyjama Pour Six” by Camoletti, who also wrote “Boeing Boeing.”

After a successful run in Paris of “Pyjama Pour Six,” the English-speaking rights were purchased by London producer Mark Furness who commissioned playwright Robin Hawdon to adapt the play for English-speaking audiences. The English version opened in the West End at the Apollo Theatre in March 1991.

Reviewers described the play as “Hurling along at the speed of light, Marc Camoletti’s breathtaking farce is a near faultless piece of theatrical invention.”

Hawdon’s adaptation kept the French flavor in the English version. This seems obvious with its bit of pandering to chauvinism. The play moved to the Duchess Theatre and ran for another six years. This version, which we play tonight, has since played in theaters all over America and the English-speaking world. The reviewer for The New York Times wrote, “Don’t Dress for Dinner does not mirror human folly in the manner of true farce, but, rather, extols pretense….”

Another reviewer wrote that “subtlety” is not a requirement, or even an asset, when playing farce, and that casts need make no attempt to underplay. It is a farcical comedy, pure and simple. PAPA is thrilled to be putting on such a renown play for the Lake Country this November. “…Then there are our audiences, many of whom have been supporting us over a lot of years and rarely miss our performances,” McClain writes. “Thank you all from our deepest being.” “Don’t Dress For Dinner” will be performed on The Plaza stage Nov. 14, 15, 21 and 22 at 7 p.m. and Nov. 17 at 3 p.m.

Tickets are on sale now at plazancenter.org or by calling The Plaza offices at 706-923-1655.