Don’t Dress for Dinner, by Marc Camoletti and Robin Hawdon, is the first play in The Smiths Falls Community Theatre’s 2026 season. Set in the French countryside near Paris in a converted farm building, this dynamic farce borders on the ridiculous as the action explodes early with cheating spouses on both sides of a slumping marriage.
Bernard (Rob Glas) plans a romantic weekend with his secret lover Suzanne (Stephanie Korzeniowski) while his wife Jacqueline (Liz Stienberg) is visiting her mother. But when Jacqueline learns that Bernard’s best friend, her secret lover Robert (Robert Del Grande), is coming, she cancels her plans and stays home. Uh oh, two secret lovers under one converted-barn roof. When the Cordon Bleu chef Suzette (Lara Klymko) arrives, Robert assumes she’s Bernard’s lover Suzanne — an honest mistake — and now he must convince Jacqueline that he, Robert, is not with Suzette. Suzanne (Bernard’s lover) arrives next, and within moments none of them knows which one is Suzanne, which one is Suzette, who is sleeping where, how long their particular string of lies can last, and most importantly, who’s cooking dinner. And if that’s confusing, we’re still in Act One! Soon enough, Chef Suzette’s jealous, bone-crunching husband George (Dave Snider) arrives. Mayhem, double talk and a happy (enough) ending somehow ensue.
This is a funny, frenetically paced French farce that will delight audiences. The cast is full of familiar names and faces, super keen and experienced. Rehearsals are well underway and laugh-filled. Director Dave Clark, new to the area but not to directing, is delighted to add this rollicking nugget to a long list of directorial titles in his past. Prepare for some wintertime silliness as we all slip our way toward a most welcome spring. You will recognize regular contributors as well as some new cast members in this show.
Don’t Dress for Dinner runs for seven performances over two weekends, with 7:30pm performances on February 13, 14, 19, 20 and 21, and 2pm matinées on February 15 and 22. Order your tickets and select your seats online at smithsfallstheatre.com. Orders can also be made at Special Greetings, 8 Russell Street East in Smiths Falls, Monday through Saturday from 9am to 5pm. You can also call the store at 283–2244. Adult tickets are $25, student tickets are $10, and season vouchers are still available. Visit smithsfallstheatre.com to find out what’s coming up at The Station Theatre.