What’s an old lady to do with her remaining years after her longtime hubby dies? At 83, does she just give up, die of boredom, or find an interesting hobby?

These are the burning questions asked by an increasing number of old ladies but, in the upcoming Caledon Townhall Players production of Nana’s Naughty Knickers, Nana comes up with a novel idea: making lingerie for likewise elderly ladies.

Of course, there are a couple of snags to the plan. First of these is the apartment in which Nana has lived for so many years that the rent controlled cost of it to her loses money for her frustrated landlord who would dearly like to find a reason to boot her out.

Such a business venture as Nana is consid- ering to run out of her apartment can only be conducted with considerable stealth if she wants to hang on to the excellent rent she enjoys for her down town Manhattan home. So, when her granddaughter, Bridget, a law-student-to-be, comes to spend the summer with her; when Tom O’Grady, the rookie cop, who has taken on a very protective role for Nana, starts to be a regular visitor, especially once he meets Bridget; when the landlord, Gil begins to wonder how visitors one lady should have (“…wouldn’t you think they’d start dying?”), the complications of serving her customers and keeping the business a secret really deliver the laughs.

Stephanie Bailey, directing her first show with CTHP, says the show, which opens next Thursday, is “going well.”

Saying the play is “very busy, very active,” she added that timing and the physicality of it “are essential to get right.”

However complicated it is, Ms. Bailey was clear that it is coming together really well.

The actors are a mix of mostly experienced actors, with one new to the business. Some are regulars at the theatre and others are coming from other communities.

In the lead role of Nana, or Sylvia to her friends, is Kathy O’Shea, with Jo-Anne Pulfer as her youthful but cautious granddaughter.

Long-time friend of the theatre, Jeannette Massicotte, plays the part of Vera, a similarly elderly lady who is Nana’s best friend and accomplice in the knickers business.

Ambitious, if looking in the wrong direction is Heather, played by Cathy Montgomery while Nana’s best customer, Clair, is portrayed by Rosanna Armata.

Steve Redford takes on the role Tom O’Grady the innocent cop who is determined to keep Nana safe from Gil Schmidt, the landlord, performed by a regular to the stage, Jeff Bathurst.

Raymond Young handles the dual roles of the UPS man and the Voice of the man on the front desk.

Ms Bailey lives in Erin, where she and her husband Chris have a shop for children, Brighten Up. They sell educational toys, do tutoring and run camps during the school holidays.

With a background of a double major at the University of Guelph in Theatre Arts and History, plus her BofEd from Queen’s University, Ms Bailey is well qualified for her role as theatre director and educator, both her passions.

Chris Bailey, who is producing Nana’s Naughty Knickers, was a business major at university.

The couple come from Erin and longed to open a business there, which they did four years ago with Brighten Up.

Nana’s Naughty Knickers is, as usual, a comedy, obviously. The feeling amongst the committee that chooses the plays for the season at CTHP is that people love to laugh and the players love to cater to that preference.

“People love a good comedy and we love to play them,” Jeannette Massicotte, publicist for the theatre group, told us. “Then, once during the show’s run, the Knox United Church across the street does dinner before the show and that’s a great evening out.”

Indeed.

So, the opening night is next Thursday, November 5. The play then runs on Friday, November 6 and Saturday the 7th. The shows continue the following weekend on Friday, November 13 and Saturday, the 14th. Evening performances start at 8:15 p.m. There is, additionally, a matinee on Saturday, Nov. 14 at 2:15.

The Theatre Dinner on Nov. 7 is served at 6:30 p.m. at Knox Church.

Tickets from the Box Office at 519-927- 5460 or at www.caledontownhallplayers.com.

It’s the chance of a fun evening out while supporting community theatre.