Walnut Grove director Rita Price is drawn to comedy, because, as she tells it "life dishes out enough drama."

The self-proclaimed thespian has immersed herself in theatre since a young age, scooping up countless acting awards even during her high school years.

Through the years, she has gone on to participate in countless community theatre productions with Langley Players, Stage 43, Langley Footlight Players, Emerald Pig Society, Metro Theatre, and Surrey Little Theatre (SLT).

It's her participation with the latter - which she first discovered some 15 years back - that is consuming all her time right now.

She is directing Bermuda Avenue Triangle, and the curtain goes up on this show tonight (Thursday).

"My family knows that this is an important part of my life, and my cat does not seem to mind that I am not home," Price told the Langley Advance.

This is actually Price's fifth time directing a SLT production - the others were 100 Lunches, Looking, The Garage Sale, and The Love List - and her 17th time directing, overall.

She loves the all-consuming duties that go along with being the director.

"A director starts planning, in their head, from the moment they decide to direct the play," she explained.

"Actual rehearsals are six to seven weeks, three times a week, each rehearsal about three hours. Although other people are responsible for various departments, the director is aware of what is going on as they are responsible for the show the patrons see."

For many, all those responsibilities are too much, but Price admits to thriving in such conditions.

Being retired, Price admits to having more time to devote to such endeavours than some might.

"But we always find the time to do the things we want to do and housework can always wait," she said.

Would she do it again?

"In a heartbeat. I love the process, there is something great to take words on a page and in six weeks time you have a set built, decorated, music, lights, costumes, and a team of people bringing the characters of the play to life," she said.

This time around, Price is working with a cast of six - including fellow Langley thespians Kate Major and Michael Powell, - as well as a crew of about 10 to 12.

"I appreciate the hours and hours [the cast and crew] spend learning lines, sewing costumes, looking for props, building, painting, or working on lighting and sound cues. I also take my hat off to those who do reservations, work the front of house, produce the posters and programs," she said.

"It may not take a village to put on a show, but it does take a group of smart, talented, and dedicated people to get the show on the road."

Bermuda Avenue Triangle is a comedy written by Renee Taylor and Joseph Bologna that tells the story of two elderly widows, one Jewish (Fanny) and the other an Italian Catholic (Tess), who are set up in an upscale Las Vegas retirement condo by their career-oriented daughters.

Trapped by years of unhappiness, Fanny weeps and Tess does nothing but complain. But that all changes when these two cross paths with the charming scoundrel, Johnny Paolucci, who rocks both their worlds.

"Fanny and Tess undergo a grand metamorphosis from being two, baggy grey-haired old biddies into a pair of glam-rock golden girls," Price said.

The play starts tonight, and runs until Feb. 16, with performances on Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays at 8 p.m., and Sundays (Feb. 3 and 10).

Tickets are $15 and can be reserved by calling 604-576-8451 or email reservations@surreylittletheatre.com.

Surrey Little Theatre, which is located in a renovated church in Clayton Heights, is at 7027 184th St.

Asked what's in store after she finishes with Bermuda Avenue Triangle, Price said nothing's on the books yet.

"But I do want to do more directing."