The Terry Pratchett novel Monstrous Regiment will come alive this weekend on the 111 Forum stage -- just in time for students to start their Halloween revelry.

The No Refund Theatre (NRT) production of the Stephen Briggs play, based off of Pratchett's 2004-released satire, will start at 8 Friday night and Saturday in 111 Forum. Admission is free and open to the public.

Jason Cassidy (graduate-higher education), the director of the No Refund Theatre production, said he collaborated to craft the original novel and a previous play adaptation into a presentable version for the audience.

Cassidy said the production, a "fantastical satire" that features themes about pretending to be something you're not, happened to be scheduled on Halloween weekend.

"You find yourself when you're not being yourself," Cassidy said.

Joni Noggle (freshman-philosophy) said Monstrous Regiment is a politically satiric piece of fiction about a fabricated country, Borogravia, and its unnecessary war.

"It's a comedy that makes a political statement with gender roles and equality," Noggle said.

Polly Perks, the protagonist of the play, is a young girl who joins the "Monstrous Regiment" to locate her brother who is lost at war. Perks, along with the rest of the "Monstrous Regiment," disguise themselves as men, making a comedic statement when they begin to win the war once this happens.

Ryan Bergman (junior-film), the assistant director, said the comedy in the show comes from the general situation and from the setting. The play, filled with mistaken identity and subtle innuendoes, seems to be the perfect recipe for a classic comedy.

"It has that British-type humor and wackiness," Bergman said. He accredited this factor to the author of the novel, Pratchett, a relatively famous fictional writer.

But the element of comedy won't be the only entertaining factor on the Forum stage this weekend.

Noggle plays Angua, the sergeant of a neighboring country, who is also a werewolf.

These types of fictional characters are prevalent in the story, Cassidy said.

"There are so many fantastical elements," Cassidy said. "It gives us an opportunity to play dress up."

Mark Celeste (junior-English) said the costumes featured in the play are one of the best parts of the performance. Celeste plays the role of Lieutenant Blouse in the "Monstrous Regiment."

He said his favorite part of his costume is an "awesome hat" that was handmade specifically for him.

The opportunity for cast members to dress as such fanciful characters makes the play especially fitting for Friday's holiday, Celeste said.

With vampires, werewolves and even trolls present on stage, it seems Monstrous Regiment is geared to the Halloween-craving audience.

Cassidy said NRT's performance is a good way to kick off the Halloween fun.

"It plays into a whole lot," Cassidy said. "I think the audience will appreciate that."