Make no mistake: Trafford Tanzi, the current Village Theatre production running at Memorial Hall in Waterdown, is not your father’s community theatre. And although the play centres on family, it is not family entertainment.

Director Mike Rae, whose choice of material never fails to challenge, this time grabs his audience by the lapels and yanks them into the dysfunctional wrestling ring that is Tanzi’s home life.

Billed as a “rock’n roll comedy,”  the Claire Luckham play is told in 10 rounds, accompanied by the raucous sounds of the Science Ninja Big Ten Band. A wrestling ring-cum-stage is the arena for the plot, which tells the story of Tanzi from infancy to her wild success as a European ladies’ champion.

As the physically demanding action unfolds, a battle of the sexes emerges between the heroine, and her testosterone-fuelled husband, Dean Rebel. Throw in a dominatrix and her boy toy, a creepy school psychologist and two spectacularly unfit parents and anything goes.

The production takes on a pantomime feel, as the actors nimbly hop in and out of the ring and the audience is encouraged to cheer – or boo – the heroes and villains. Earplugs are optional.

Due to the strenuous physicality of the material, acting duties for the lead roles are shared, with Rachel Janosi, Alaina Meyer and Meghan Storey playing Tanzi on alternate nights. The role of Dean Rebel is played by Chris Cracknell and Geoff Connor.

Trafford Tanzi continues this weekend and next. Show times are 8 p.m., with a matinee slated for Sunday, Feb. 28.  

Tickets are $18 in advance, $20 at the door and are available by calling the box office at 905-690-7889 or at Jitterbug Java Café (cash only).