Not 24 hours after their murder thriller closes, members of the River City Players will hold auditions for a comedy they plan on doing in November.

The current production, "Panic," runs today and tomorrow with a buffet dinner preceding it. The next play the community theater group will do is "The Crazy Time," a comedy about an older man who leaves his wife for a younger woman and ends up being cheated on himself.

The play needs three men and two women. The group needs more people to get involved.

Longtime members have seen a decrease in activity both from people within the group and prospective new members showing an interest.

For "Panic," director Holly Raines also appears on stage as Miriam Stockton. She had to take on the dual role of director and actor when a cast member unexpectedly dropped out.

For "The Crazy Time," director Debbie Barnhouse sent out an extra appeal to her e-mail list, imploring recipients to encourage any men 20 and older to audition. She said auditions usually have plenty of women but never enough men.

Where are these brave souls?

Each play audition generally attracts 10 to 15 people, but most of them are returning River Cit y Players members. Nothing wrong with experience, but new people have to get involved to energize a cause -- or community theater, as the case may be.

If it's the fear of public performance keeping you away, don't act. The members of River City Players don't just get on stage. It's a club like any other. They socialize. They meet new people. Members design or build sets, sell tickets, help with wardrobe or seating.

The thespian group will have a general members meeting at 6 p.m. Wednesday in the Captain's Quarters of Port Cape to mingle, talk about possible plays, goals and general member opinions.

They invite new people to dip their toes into community theater by meeting the members Wednesday. Or, if you want to dive right in, you can audition at 1 p.m. Sunday for "The Crazy Time."