Director Bob Meals described Ken Ludwig's comedy "Leading Ladies," which opens tomorrow at Butler Little Theatre, as " 'Tootsie' and 'Some Like it Hot' meet Monty Python."

"The laughs come early and often, and they don't let up," he said.

"Leading Ladies" is the story of two hack Shakespearean actors, Jack and Leo, and their desperate plot to defraud a small-town Pennsylvania widow by pretending to be her nephews. When they arrive at the widow's home, however, they find out she doesn't have nephews --she has nieces. Can they pull off the performance of their lives?

Mr. Meals noted the play includes a small section of the Bard's "Twelfth Night," another play that hangs on cross-dressing "performed by rank amateurs."

And in a comedy that has "so many wonderful moments," Mr. Meals said, another is the men's first entrance as women. "They use their Shakespearean outfits, so one of them is dressed like Cleopatra."

Although the "Ladies" script has built-in laughs, Mr. Meals said much of its humor comes from the cast. "They're all so well-suited to their parts."

Longtime Little Theatre actor Phillip Ball plays Jack and alter ego Stephanie. He said he'd worn a dress onstage briefly before, but that this show was a coat of a different color. "I'm in women's clothes for 75 percent of the show," he said. "Let me tell you, the shoes are the biggest challenge."

He noted he has acted with Casey Bowser, who plays Leo/Maxine, in several shows and that the most enjoyable part of "Leading Ladies" is creating the slapstick comedy bits. "There's a lot of playing around, trying to figure out what gags will work."

Besides appearing at the Little Theatre in February's "The Whales of August," Judy Davis, who plays the ailing aunt, said she's worked at many local theaters, including Hampton's now-closed Red Barn.

She described "Leading Ladies" as "an hysterically funny show," adding that her backstage experience also has been positive. "This theater is really organized," she said. "Actors don't have to worry about finding their own costumes, and they don't have to help build the set."

Mr. Meals said the organization is part of an effort to grow the theater, and it seems to be working. He pointed to an increase in the number of people auditioning and helping to construct sets. "I'm getting energized," he said.

"Leading Ladies" also features Jaclyn Harrison as Meg, Casey Lazor as Audrey, Jeff Carey as Butch, Thom Hilliard as Doc and Angelo Quaranta as Duncan. Danyle Solomon-Verzinskie is producer.

"Leading Ladies" will be performed at 8:15 p.m. tomorrow, Saturday, May 16 and 17; 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Wednesday and next Thursday; and 2:30 p.m. Sunday at Butler Little Theatre, 1 Howard St., Butler. Tickets are $10. Call 724-287-6781.