Scott Hinds and John Hutchens are seeing sides of each other they never knew existed.

"We play 10 characters apiece - men, women and animals," said Mr. Hutchens, who, along with Mr. Hinds, forms the cast of the Le Chat Noir production of Greater Tuna, which opened April 6.

The men know each other from their professional careers, not from their theatrical endeavors.

Mr. Hinds, an engineer at Savannah River Site, and Mr. Hutchens, the program manager at the University of South Carolina Aiken's Ruth Patrick Science Center, have collaborated on children's science programs in the past.

"I've been involved with the USC Aiken science education day," Mr. Hinds said. "It's held on a Saturday every year in October. USC opens up to thousands of kids with exhibits."

The play is a departure from their careers and has nothing to do with science.

The two-man show is a satire about the tiny town of Tuna, Texas. It portrays one day in the lives of its quirky residents, with Mr. Hutchens and Mr. Hinds playing all of the characters, including a mother and daughter.

"It's been a challenge, but it's been fun," Mr. Hutchens said. "It's stretching my acting skills. I had to learn half a script, and it's a really long script."

Mr. Hinds said playing women has been most challenging.

"I never had to play a convincing woman," he said. "I really want to do a good job. As funny as it is, I can screw it up."

Mr. Hutchens said he finds humor in the characters - some of whom remind him of relatives.

"The mother in the show, Bertha, she's very funny. She's loosely based on my grandmother with the way she says words," he said.

Director Richard Justice said most people from the South probably can relate to the characters.

"You can pick out several family members" from the cast of characters, he said.

Greater Tuna will be presented Thursday-Saturday at Le Chat Noir in Augusta.

The residents of Tuna will return around Christmas when Le Chat Noir presents A Tuna Christmas.

Reach Charmain Z. Brackett at czbrackett@hotmail.com.