Barney Cashman is a man on a quest to experience the sexual revolution of the ‘60s before it’s too late.

But the greatest risk to his chances of success is his own sense of morality – raised with a strict Jewish upbringing and having been faithful to his wife Thelma for 23 years, his need for experimentation following a mid-life crisis will be anything but easy.

Plus there’s the fact that he’s taking his lovers back to his mother’s house because he believes renting a hotel room is too sordid… Last Of The Red Hot Lovers by Neil Simon is being performed by the Standlake Players from October 24-26 at 7.30pm in Standlake Village Hall.

The cast has been directed by Dion McHugh, a retired theatre professional who became involved with the Players a few years ago.

He said: “This is the story of someone who’s basically a good man, although he is what you would call ‘nebbish’ – a bit limp. He comes to know three women who all present him with a great deal of difficulty.

“It’s a three-act play, with him spending time with one woman in each act. Its structure is almost like three plays in one, with Barney as the linchpin holding it all together.”

All three of the central character’s would-be conquests are very different from each other.

The first is the sexually-experienced Elaine, who likes cigarettes, whisky and other women’s husbands. Next is Bobbi, an actress who Barney has offered to help gain an audition. She’s come over to repay the money he loaned her, but there could be more on the cards.

Jeanette is the last of the trio and potentially the most problematic. She’s best friends with Barney’s wife, suffering from depression and seeking revenge on her own husband.

The action takes place over the course of a year and follows Barney as he strives towards what he’s hoping to achieve.

Mr McHugh worked for 30 years in professional theatre, starting off as an actor in Canada.

He said: “In the ‘70s and ‘80s you had to become an actor first so you could watch directors at work – that was the only way you could be a director.

“I’ve worked with people like Andrew Lloyd Webber on Starlight Express. I’m 65 now and got to the point the travelling and the pressure was too much and I had the luxury to be able to retire.”

He had also become weary of the emergence of the risk-averse culture in commercial theatre – a point where a play is unlikely to be put on unless it is a guaranteed success or has a famous star attached to it.

“To be honest, and I know it’s a cliché, but when it comes to amateur groups they are people who are involved in it strictly because they love it,” he said.

“That includes everyone behind the scenes as well. They’ve all got full-time jobs and are raising children, and working with them is a delight.”

The Standlake Players was founded in October 2007 and holds up to three dinner theatre evenings a year.

A raffle is held every night of the performance and much of the proceeds will be donated to charity.

Past beneficiaries include the Standlake Play Park, Standlake Primary School and Stoke Mandeville Hospital.

SEE IT: Tickets are £15, which includes a two-course meal, nibbles and coffee. They are available from the box office on 01865 300545, tickets@standlake players.com or standlake players.com