DOWAGIAC — Sitting at a small table, actors Max Sala and Lucinda Moriarty hold a pair of cards in their hands, each eyeing the other as competition. Hand after hand, Moriarty wins the simple game of Gin they are playing. Though the pair is exchanging pleasant small talk, an anger boils under the surface, until Sala, angry at losing, stands up and knocks over the playing table.

“Do you have to win all the time?” He asks, his voice raised.

The pair, acting out a scene, laugh as their director calls “cut” and congratulate each other on a scene well done.

“That was really, really good,” Moriarty told Sala.

Starting Friday, the Beckwith Theatre, 100 New York Ave, Dowagiac, will be putting on D.L. Colburn’s “The Gin Game” for two non-consecutive weekends. Show times will be at 7:30 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays June 15, 16, 29 and 30. Sunday show times will be at 2 p.m. June 17 and July 1. Tickets are $15.

The play is sponsored by Indian Lake Hills Golf Course, Indian Lake Pub, Olympia Books and Deck the Halls. An opening night wine reception will be sponsored by Domaine Berrien Cellars. A second Friday beer tasting will be sponsored by Final Gravity Brewing Company.

“The Gin Game,” a comedy-drama that originally debuted in 1976, tells the story of characters Weller Martin and Fonsia Dorsey, two elderly residents at a nursing home for senior citizens. The pair strikes an acquaintance and begins to play the card game Gin. Through their games, the pair has lengthy conversations about the nature of family and aging.

“It’s just a really great play that people hadn’t talked about in a long time,” said director Richard Frantz. “In a lot of ways, it is still relevant today if not more relevant in terms of how we treat our elderly.”

Sala and Moriarty will be playing the two central characters of the play. The pair called preparing for the play a challenge as they are the only two characters to appear on stage.

“It was certainly different and it takes a lot out of you,” Sala said. “But working with [Moriarty] has been great.”

Moriarty said the idea of working one on one with Sala was part of what drew her to the part of Fonsia. The other was the subject material.

“There are so many interesting and thought-provoking topics brought up through these long conversations the characters have that I think should be explored,” she said. “[Fonsia] is a tough character, and I really wanted to take on that challenging role.”

Frantz said he has full confidence in Sala and Moriarty to pull off the characters of Weller and Fonsia.

“I’ve been lucky to have some of the most talented actors around,” Frantz said. “So, for me, it has been really easy. … Part of the appeal of this show is that they are so good.”

All three said they would encourage anyone who is interested to attend the play, as they believe the play to be both comedic, relevant and thought-provoking.

“What people will walk away with will depend on their age. If they are younger and have aging parents, it might get you thinking. If you are a bit older, it may get you thinking about the choices we make and how it gets us to where we end up,” Frantz said. “I think that is worthwhile.”