With a shoestring budget and creative ingenuity, the SF State Player's Club will debut their first production of the semester, "The Amateurs."

The psychological tragic comedy, by playwright Tom Griffin, revolves around the opening night of a theater troupe's performance when a critic dies mid-critique.

"[The play] is a grim warning for amateur actors and all creative persons," said lead actor Will Hand. "It is about a struggle to avoid mediocrity."

The young actors find it difficult to play old, washed up thesbians.

Kaitlin Schuster describes her character, Irene, as a high-strung woman who may have had one too many martinis.

"It's been challenging playing Irene," she said.

The Player's Club, a student theater organiztaion, was instrumental in providing the funding and talent for the play.

"Player's Club brings acting back to the basics," said actor Stephen Brookins. "There's an intimate relationship between the director and the actors."

The money for the costumes, lighting, and space rental came entirely from the school club and had to be budgeted very carefully in the matter of a month.

"It's been a very condensed process," said Production Manager and theater major Margaux Hodges. "It has been a fun challenge to make this work without the department."

Through this production, all of the cast and crew have gotten first-hand experience dealing with all of the challenges of putting together a full-length play.

"Every night, the cast and crew has to move the whole set and all props out of the theatre, which is much harder than it seems," said director Laura Schultze.

Hodges estimates that the play cost around $3000 to produce.

This is Schultze's fourth time directing a play but her first attempt at SF State.

"Essentially, we have pulled together a full production in about a month when main stage plays get three or four [months] and a department budget," said Hand. "It has been a big learning experience."

"Hopefully opening night will go off without a hitch. And if not, the least we will have is a blast," said Schuster.

"It's exciting to be able to perform this show with my friends, for my friends. I'm ready for the hard work to pay off."

The process of making this play a reality began in November when the play was chosen and hopeful student directors auditioned for the opportunity to manage their own production.

Since winter break the cast and crew have been working nearly seven hours a day to prepare, rehearse, and work out the kinks for the two-week run.

Tickets are $10 per person. "The Amateurs" will run Feb. 6, 7, 12, 13, and 14 at 7 p.m. and Feb. 8, 15 at 2 p.m. The February 8 showing will also have a talk back segment where the audience can ask questions of the cast and crew. There will be a free preview of the play tonight at 7 p.m.