When auditioning for the lead character in Sylvia, Carrie Parr never anticipated she would be taking on the role of a canine elapsing into heat.

I do play a stray dog, but I don’t walk on all fours, Parr said. I actually go into heat too, but I was just told to act sexy and very promiscuous.

Sylvia, which will be presented at The Stage Co., 101 N. Washington St., through March 1, is the story of a stray dog who is found and adopted by a middle-aged man unhappy with his career and New York residence.

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The man is just not happy. He’s going through a mid-life crisis, director of the production Mary Boil said. He comes across a stray dog in the park, who on stage is performed by a beautiful young girl, and finds a great attachment to her.

Despite the enjoyment of her role as a dog, Parr said she found some of the descriptions of her performance rather unique and challenging.

As a dog, I have to get on my knee’s when commanded to sit, Parr said. My owner also has me spayed after I go into heat and that is rather difficult to interpret on stage.

The twisted plot revolves around romance, comedy and drama. Smaller than the Broadway production of Sylvia, The Stage Co., found no difficulties in adapting the play to its accommodations.

We are all pretty flexible with the production, Boil said. You figure things out as you go and you just find ways to do it.

The Stage Co. seats only 100 people in an intimate setting that allots audience members the feeling they are part of the performance.

If you’re sitting in the front row it feels like you are actually in the play, Boil said. People should get tickets in advance. With only 100 seats, they may be disappointed to show up the evening of the performance and we are sold out.

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Boil and the cast are all volunteers. The Stage Co. is a non-profit organization that survives mainly on ticket sales.

We receive a very small grant from the Illinois Art Council, but everyone here is volunteer, Boil said. The only exception is the person running the box office, but we all do it for fun.

Parr also said she felt the experience was worth the time and effort put forth in the production.

It is fun to be something or someone else, she said. It’s a chance to get away without going anywhere.

Although the story line is unusual, Boil said The Stage Co. tries diligently to adapt it for the Carbondale audience.

Not everything is going to appeal to everyone, she said. We just try to do a balance of comedy, mystery and romance.

The language in some of the performances may offend our older patrons and the younger crowd may not enjoy what the elder likes, but the community is diverse and this is a community theater.

The production will continue for three weeks, and for many of the volunteers this can be a time-consuming process.

We do it because we can, but we run for three weekends and with rehearsals it takes up two months of your life, Boil said.

However, Parr said the performance is a way to keep herself occupied and the difficulties with time eventually diminish.

The play keeps me busy, Parr said. Every role presents a challenge but after six weeks of rehearsals you get pretty comfortable with the role and the settings.

Boil said the production is rather mature and she found that working with a full adult cast is promising.

It is a good show, she said. I don’t have to worry if my leading man has braces or who will get a date for the prom.

FACTOID:The performances begin tonight and continue through March 1. Admission for the 8 p.m. performances Fridays and Saturdays is $7. The 2 p.m. matinees Sundays are $5.

For information, call 549-5466.