The gray austere interior of a granite mausoleum is the setting for Waterworks Players production of Christopher Fry’s “A Phoenix Too Frequent.” As a comic version of the once well-known tale of the “Widow of Ephesus” written by the Roman author Petronius, Fry’s one-act play has been described by theater critic Christopher Hoile as a witty, vibrant comedy about human foibles sure to raise anyone’s spirits.

Jordan Whiley directs this production that contains a fresh story retelling by setting the production in Virginia following the end of the Civil War. Notes Whiley, “The tragic events that occurred here in Virginia make a perfect backdrop for this play that might otherwise seem very distant in Fry’s original Roman setting.”

Charlotte Trant returns to the stage as Dynamene, a beautiful young widow who ready to die from grief over the death of her husband where his bier lies awaiting internment. She is starving herself to death so that she can join her husband in the afterlife. Hannah Boswell plays Doto, Dynamene’s devoted maid o Dynamene, who isn’t quite so pious.

Both women begin to suffer the pangs of a self-imposed hunger and there are signs that they also are unhappy over the loss of male company, but not until a handsome guard appears, played by Greg Tsigaridas, does Dynamene begin regretting her noble experiment in withdrawing from the world.

The guard is invited to keep the ladies company, and he in turn invites them to partake of his food. Before long the widow is rethinking her pious devotions.

Join others to learn what happens to Dyamene, can she return to a worldly and pleasant life?

The show runs Feb. 8, 9, 15, and 16 at 8 p.m. In addition, there will be a matinee on Feb. 10 at 2 p.m.

You can obtain tickets by visiting the website: http://waterworksplayers.org or calling the box office at (434) 392-3452