NEW MILFORD — T Bone N Weasel, opening at TheatreWorks May 19, promises to bring the local color of rural South Carolina to the Housatonic Valley this spring. A comedy as audacious as it is inspiring, T Bone N Weasel invites its audience to join two adventuring ex-cons on the road trip of a lifetime as they travel the backroads of the Palmetto State in search of salvation and a hot meal.

Playwright Jon Klein has created two unforgettable and uniquely American characters which provide the remarkable play with energy of the highest octane. T Bone (being played by Lonnie Young) is the elder of the duo. He is an experienced car thief who is at his best when cruising in a stolen Buick headed absolutely nowhere.

At his side is Weasel (Brian Reid), a young felon-in-training who secretly dreams of holding down a real job and buying a Chevette. Together they have embarked on a journey that is as mythic as it is hilarious.

As T Bone and Weasel travel aimlessly from town to town, they encounter an assortment of crazy characters (all played by Rich Pettibone) who serve to drag the pair deeper and deeper into the heart of poverty’s darkness.

“This aspect of the show is what really appealed to me,” says director Jocelyn Beard. “It’s essentially a comedy with a soul. You can simply go with the laughs, search out the social and philosophical meaning or do both.

“This play is an extremely clever combination of humor and allegory, not to mention an opportunity for three actors to have a whole lot of fun!”

T Bone N Weasel opens May 19 and will run Friday and Saturday evenings through June 10 at 8 pm. There will be one Sunday performance, on June 4 at 7 pm. On Thursday, May 18, senior citizens are invited to view a free preview presentation at 8 pm; and Thursday, May 25, will be the theater’s Pay-What-You-Can night.

Tickets for most other shows are $12.50 for adults and $10.50 for students and seniors. Reservations can be made by calling the box office at 860/350-6863. Reservations are not accepted for any of the special Thursday night performances.

The Saturday, May 20, performance of T Bone N Weasel will be a fundraiser to benefit the Interfaith AIDS Ministry of Greater Danbury. Tickets for this special evening are $25, will all proceeds going to the AIDS Ministry. Tickets for this benefit performance may be purchased by calling the AIDS Ministry directly 748-4077.

TheatreWorks is a 100 seat non-profit, award-winning theatre at 5 Brookside Avenue, just off Route 202 (next to M&B’s IGA) in New Milford.