Players of the Stage, a nonprofit youth theater group, presented “Quality Street” onstage April 27, 28 and 29.

This four-act play is a romantic comedy written by James M. Barrie, who is best known for his famous work Peter Pan.

“Quality Street” tells the story of Miss Susan Throssel and her sister Miss Phoebe Throssel, who is in love with Valentine Brown, a local physician, who enlists in the military.

When Brown returns 10 years later, he finds the sisters have set up a school for children and it has taken its toll on Phoebe, who has also developed an alter ego.

Raegan Schroder, who portrays Miss Phoebe Throssel and Molly Williams, who plays Miss Susan Throssel, comment on their roles.

“Miss Phoebe is the younger sister to Miss Susan. She is dashing and bold, but she strives to be ladylike,” Schroder said. “I feel she tries to please so many people, that she forgets to allow herself room to have her own feelings. Miss Phoebe truly has a kind heart, however, and she is firm, but loving.”

She said personally, she feels Phoebe is a lot like her, but in another era.

“I love taking her character and making her my own, giving her different twists and becoming her altogether,” Schroder said. “I think Miss Phoebe is a lot like all of us. We all, at times, have had to persevere through disappointment, pick ourselves up and keep going. Thankfully, we have a loving God who will be there to help us.”

Schroder said since almost all her friends auditioned and got in, she gets to hang out with them at each rehearsal and she also loves how professionally this play is being handled, right down to the time given to memorize lines.

Williams states Miss Susan is Phoebe’s older sister.

“She really wants to see Phoebe get married, so she does not end up an old spinster like her,” she said. “She is not the smartest person but has some clever moments. Even though she is the older sister, she follows Phoebe’s lead.”

Williams said she finds Susan’s personality funny and she has a few smart moments.

“I feel like I have a lot of similarities with my character,” Williams said. “I really enjoy being able to give my character life.”

She said she likes the plot of the story and being able to see her friends and having a bunch of scenes with them.

Evan Diem, who plays Valentine Brown, also commented on his role.

“Valentine is a local physician on Quality Street,” Diem said. “He is concerned about being brave and gallant and because of this, he goes off to war. He is infatuated with Miss Phoebe but did not marry her before he left.”

Diem said his character Valentine is a very different person from him.

“Being able to test my ability in acting is always fun,” he added. “I love being with my fellow castmates. I have known many of them for years which makes the process very easy.”

This show is being directed by Barbara Vogelgesang, with costumes by Sharon Noel.

Noel, artistic director, comments on why they chose to perform “Quality Street.”

“We have a number of high school junior and senior girls who we wanted to give a chance to deal with more difficult material,” Noel said. “‘Quality Street’ is a comedy that can be a challenging thing to perform and has a lot of emotional depth.”

Vogelgesang said like most of James Barrie’s plays “Quality Street” is about transformation and acceptance.

“Phoebe Throssel lives on Quality Street with her sister Susan. She has been courted by Valentine Brown, a handsome gentleman who decides to enlist in the Napoleonic Wars,” she said. “Ten years pass when Valentine returns to Quality Street as a celebrated captain and he is greeted by a more mature, less glamorous Phoebe.

“When Phoebe sees the disappointment in Valentine’s face, she is emboldened to create a younger alter-ego named Miss Livvy. Phoebe, disguised as Miss Livvy, begins to attend balls and relive her youthful glory days. As she rekindles her romance with Valentine, can she juggle both personas or will her deception ruin her reputation forever? Eventually, Phoebe learns that being who God designed her to be is best.”

In lieu of an admission fee, a freewill offering was taken to benefit Love Ran Red Foundation.

Vogelgesang said Love Ran Red Foundation is a Christian-based, nonprofit foundation dedicated to helping adults with Autism spectrum disorder and Autism.

“Eighty-one percent of adults with autism live with their aging parents. When their parents are no longer living or can no longer take care of them, Love Ran Red Foundation is dedicated to providing employment through Duke’s Delites and essential living assistance to families of adults with Autism and developmental disabilities,” she said.

“We wanted to partner with different ministries in the area. Elisabeth Barshinger and Sharon Noel’s family cared for two intellectual disabled individuals for 23 years in their home. So, a ministry that helps in this way is a blessing to this community.”

“It has been exciting to have a new director come in and have the actors experience new directing styles and different approaches to rehearsing,” Noel said.

“Quality Street” was performed at Living Hope Presbyterian Church, 330 Schantz Road, Lower Macungie.

For more information about Players of the Stage, visit playersofthestage.com.