The Schoolhouse Arts Center at Sebago Lake Village in Standish is alive and well this winter, with the Daytime Players presenting two classic comedies: Neil Simon’s “The Sunshine Boys” and C.B. Gilford’s “Bull in a China Shop.”

The Daytime Players, a group that was started four years ago by members Gayle Clarke and Jerry Walker, had only four members in the beginning and performed in the daytime at senior center luncheons.

Initially centered around newly retired and empty nesters who wanted to act, they’ve eliminated the inconvenience of driving at night in the winter, rehearsing in the daytime on Mondays. The group welcomes any adult who has time to rehearse during the day.

“We have definitely developed from short skits to being able to put on full plays but still welcome complete newcomers to join,” Gayle Clarke said. “In the past Jerry has said you can join if you’re old enough to vote and have a sense of humor.”

Joyce Hartwick, of Brownfield, directs “Bull in a China Shop” and joined the Daytime Players after Clarke ran an ad in the paper. With a bachelor’s in theater, it was right up her alley.

“Basically, if you walk in the door, you get to perform,” she said.

The Schoolhouse Arts Center, a nonprofiit, educates the community in the performing arts offering full after-school programs, a series of camps in the summer and community theater, such as The Daytime Players.

Jerry Walker, co-founder of the Daytime Players and director of “The Sunshine Boys,” has always been involved with the performing arts either teaching music at Stern High School and Oxford Hills, to directing community theater in South Paris and Lake Region.

“I enjoy creative spirits” he said, and reminisced about having gone to high school in that very same building that now stands as the Schoolhouse Arts Center.

“It’s a lot of fun. Anybody can be in the group, we’re not snobby. The point is to have a good group of people. It adds to the overall experience,” he said.

Neil Simon’s “The Sunshine Boys” deals with the characters of Willie Clark (played by Garvey Maclean) and Al Lewis (played by Jerry Walker) as television comedians who struggle to keep the bond that made them famous in the Vaudeville circuit. Chaos and comedy pursue as they try to rehearse for a televised special honoring themselves.

Also featured in the performance are Heidi Libby, of Limington, as the nurse in the “Doctor Sketch,” Lonnie Wescott, of Windham, as a patient and TV announcer, Sumida Sferes, of Windham, as the home healthcare nurse with attitude, and Bob Mosey, of Hollis, as Willie’s nephew and theatrical agent, Ben Silverman.

“Bull in a China Shop” reveals the talented ladies of the Daytime Players. Miss Hildegarde (played by Betty Pillsbury) and her boarding house guests are falling in love with homicide detective Dennis O’Finn, their neighbor, and create a hilarious scheme to get the detective to visit. Rick Kusturin, of Gorham, plays Detective O’Finn and Hildegarde’s guests are Helene Quint of Falmouth as Birdie, Merry Welch of Brownfield as Amantha, Kristi Mackinnon of Windham as Lucy, Christine Molloy of Harrison as Nellie, and Gayle Clark of Windham as Elizabeth. Heidi Libby, of Limington, plays reporter Jane Rogers and Bernard Button of Sebago plays Johnson, the fingerprint expert.

Producer Susan Voinche, of Limington, started getting involved in theater seven to eight years ago when her daughter was taking voice lessons at the center. She began working as part of the crew and now has produced three plays.

“It’s a lot of responsibility,” she said. “When I first came in I thought maybe I could scrub floors or work backstage but I ended up producing.”

With a positive, ongoing relationship with the Standish Recreation Committee, The Daytime Players have received numerous grant and money gifts including a $300 grant for seed money when the troupe first began four years ago, and a recent $400 gift last fall for theater/art gallery space on the second floor of the center. In exchange, The Daytime Players gave the recreation committee 40 free passes to their shows to distribute in the community.

Last year, the group performed a one-act play at the Schoolhouse in a “studio theater setting.” But this year is the first time taking on a full season slot of community theater there, with two full shows for a three-weekend run.

“I’ve enjoyed theater since I was a teenager and in college. It’s a wonderful, fun outlet-it’s playtime for me, and I know many of the others would agree,” said Clarke. “Jerry describes it well: ‘We meet in the daytime and play!'”

The Sunshine Boys runs March 2-11 and Bull in a China Shop runs March 16-18. Performance times are Fridays and Saturdays 7:30 p.m. and Sundays 2 p.m. For reservations call 642-3743.