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Eric Berger remembers his reaction when he learned that the Theatre Department would stage Anthony Neilson鈥檚 鈥淭he Lying Kind鈥� as its first production of the 2014-15 MainStage Season.

鈥淲e鈥檙e doing 鈥楾he Lion King?鈥欌�� said the sophomore from Riverdale, N.Y.

鈥淭hat鈥檚 what a lot of people said when the show was announced last spring,鈥� director Carol Hanscom said of the play that is anything but Disney-esque. 鈥淲e wanted to start the season with something rousing.鈥�

For the cast of 鈥淭he Lying Kind,鈥� the circle of life leads to Great Britain on Christmas Eve. Constables Blunt and Gobbel (played by Anthony Gabriele and Berger, respectively) have to finish their pre-holiday shift by delivering some sad news to an elderly couple. Trying to deal with the unhealthy couple 鈥� along with a pedophile-hunting vigilante and others 鈥� places the bumbling policemen in the middle of an evening of chaos and misunderstandings.

The show will take place at 8 p.m. Oct. 17-18 and Oct. 24-25, and at 2 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 26, in the AC-Chamber Hall. The play, which contains adult content, is for mature audiences only. Tickets (on sale at the Anderson Center Box Office) are $14, general admission; $12, faculty/staff/seniors; and $8, students.

鈥淭he Lying Kind鈥� is a 鈥渂lack farce,鈥� Hanscom said. The show offers extreme situations and physical humor while dealing with serious issues, such as death and dementia.

鈥淲hen I read 鈥楾he Lying Kind,鈥� I thought: 鈥楾his one is for me to direct,鈥欌�� said Hanscom, a University acting instructor. 鈥淢y favorite genre of theater is dark comedy. It plays into my sense of humor.鈥�

The cast members, who said they were initially unfamiliar with the show, were attracted by the comedy that develops from the misunderstandings and complications, as well.

鈥淚 was cracking up reading the script,鈥� said Rob Tendy, a senior from Putnam Valley who plays the Rev. Shandy. 鈥淓very page is tossing you curveballs. It鈥檚 a roller-coaster ride for sure.鈥�

鈥淢y first impression was that it was so scandalous,鈥� Berger said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 a farce, so it has to be. But this goes above and beyond.鈥�

Cast members emphasized, though, that the show has deep meaning. For example, Tendy said the title isn鈥檛 referring to 鈥渢he kind of people who lie.鈥� Instead, it translates to 鈥渒ind people who are lying to remain kind.鈥�

Berger agreed: 鈥淚t鈥檚 a lot of white lies that culminate to form a black comedy,鈥� he said, drawing 鈥渨ows鈥� and 鈥渙ohs鈥� from his castmates. 鈥淚 just thought of that!鈥� Berger responded.

The cast camaraderie was further on display when Berger and Gabriele pumped fists and cheered when discussing how the show鈥檚 characters speak in Cockney accents.

鈥淭he accent isn鈥檛 as tough as making it understandable,鈥� said Gabriele, a junior from Fairport, N.Y. 鈥淐arol is always saying 鈥榗onsonants, consonants.鈥� What I鈥檓 thinking about is enunciating.鈥�

鈥淭he easiest way to learn the accent is by hearing people who actually speak it, whether it鈥檚 on YouTube or the movies,鈥� said Lisa Stockman from Wantagh, who plays Garson.

While the Cockney accents add authenticity to the show, Hanscom said the key to success goes back several months: casting.

鈥淚f you cast a show well, the director鈥檚 job is so much easier,鈥� she said. 鈥淭hat鈥檚 number one. Then we get together and play.鈥�

The freedom to 鈥減lay鈥� from Hanscom is just one thing the cast members said they appreciate.

鈥淐arol allows us to stretch our imaginations and do whatever we think of,鈥� Tendy said.

鈥淚 come to rehearsal every night looking forward to working with all of these people and interacting with them on and off stage,鈥� Stockman said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 been a great experience.鈥�

With accents in place and rehearsal time ending, Hanscom said she knows what needs to happen next.

鈥淢y biggest job is staying out of their way and letting them play,鈥� she said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 now a matter of me stepping back, letting them go and not directing them too much.鈥�