COEUR d'ALENE - With all the talk of cannoli, ravioli and fettuccine, one thing is certain after watching "Over the River and Through the Woods."

"You're going to be hungry by the time you leave," said Anne Mitchell, director of the comedy that opens tonight at the Lake City Playhouse.

The six-person cast promises to deliver plenty of laughs and smiles along with all that dialogue on Italian fare, as they tell the story of Nick, who finally has his dream job.

"But he will have to leave his quirky grandparents behind. Well, they have a plan of their own to keep him around - and she is adorable."

Mitchell calls it a "warm-hearted comedy" about family, about making your way in the world, and about an older generation that works hard so their children and grandchildren can have a better life, only to have to watch them move on.

The Coeur d'Alene resident worked on a production of "Over the River and Through the Woods" about 10 years ago. When the opportunity arose to direct such a fun, yet touching show, she took it.

"You'll spend an evening smiling, and laughing and crying," she said.

And for one of those rare director moments, Mitchell has no worries about opening night. She can sit back and enjoy.

She said the cast of six, Jon Jordan, Jamie Flanery, Kathie O'Brien, Wendy Carroll, Sarah Mann and Rick Rivera are all pros who donated their time to the Playhouse for this show.

"Sometimes when we're going into opening night I'm a little bit apprehensive," she said. "Not now. These guys, if they continue the way they have, it's going to be a lovely show. They're doing beautiful."

And yes, food is often the topic of family conversation.

Mitchell has degrees in acting, direction, and technical theater. Her directing credits include "Almost Maine," "Steel Magnolias," and "Peter Pan."

Over the River and Through the Woods focuses on Nick, a single, Italian-American guy from New Jersey. His parents retired and moved to Florida.

"That doesn't mean his family isn't still in Jersey. In fact, he sees both sets of his grandparents every Sunday for dinner," a release said. "This is routine until he has to tell them that he's been offered a dream job. The job he's been waiting for - marketing executive - would take him away from his beloved, but annoying, grandparents. He tells them. The news doesn't sit so well. Thus begins a series of schemes to keep Nick around."

The single-set show runs about an hour and 45 minutes, including intermission. It is OK for kids.

If you go

Over the River and Through the Woods opens Friday night and runs through April 7 at the Lake City Playhouse. Shows are 7:30 p.m. Thursday to Saturday, and 2 p.m. Sunday. Tickets: 667-1323. Prices are $17, $15 for students and military, $13 for seniors, $11 for those 12 and under. The Playhouse is at 1320 E. Garden Ave. in Coeur d'Alene.