A junkie, a pyromaniac and a Lithium addict who hates Mozart will be part of the cast performing Mozart’s “Cosi Fan Tutte” at White Box Theater.

At least, that’s the subject of Probationary Theater Company’s new play “Cosi.”

The comedy follows the troubles and triumphs of Lewis, who attempts to direct the inmates of an asylum in 1970s Melbourne as a therapeutic exercise.

Unfortunately, what he has been asked to direct, a 3-hour opera in Italian, is no easy task.

The play is partly based on the experiences of the author, Louis Nowra, whose first job out of college was directing in an institution.

Australian Daniel White, who plays the pyromaniac in the play, played the same character in an Australian production 10 years ago, and is optimistic that the play will transfer well to an international audience.

“The majority of the cast aren’t Australian, but we’re already having a lot of laughs in rehearsal,” he says. “I think the themes and the humor of this wacky situation are universal.”

The play’s director Liam Mitchinson,who also co-owns the theater, agrees:

“It’s not just a great Australian play. It’s a great play. Period,” he says.

“It’s so refreshing to see a story on the subject of mental illness where none of the characters fall into typical cliches,” he says.

“I know it’s a risk putting on an Australian play to what will largely be an American and Canadian audience, but I feel this script is just too good to pass up.”

Doors open Friday, at 8.30 p.m. (show starts 9 p.m.) and the show is scheduled to run through Oct. 1. Tickets are 15,000 won and can be booked in advance via the www.probationarytheatrecompany.com, or on the door. Show sessions are 9 p.m. on Fridays, 5 p.m. & 8 p.m. on Saturdays and at 4 p.m. on Sundays.

White Box Theatre is located at Hyochang Park, Exit 2. Please contact Probationary Theatre Company via the website or probationarytheatre@gmail.com for further information.

By Paul Kerry (paulkerry@heraldcorp.com)