Get ready to embark on a hilarious adventure with the Lehigh Valley premier of “The Explorers Club” by Nell Benjamin, Jan. 27, 28, Feb. 3-5 and Feb. 9-12, The Pennsylvania Playhouse, 390 Illicks Mill Road, Bethlehem. Curtain time is 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Friday and Saturday and 3 p.m. Sundays.

“The Explorers Club” tells the tale of a gentlemen’s explorers club in 1879 London. When an accomplished woman attempts to join their ranks, hijinks and adventures ensue. Quirky characters and boisterous, biting humor drive the story.

Gary Boyer returns to direct his fifth show at the Playhouse. “I prefer to direct shows that have a small cast and are very funny in farcical ways,” Boyer says. After reading the script, he decided he’d “like to direct this because it’s a really funny show and I know [there are] a lot of funny people in the Lehigh Valley who would come out and audition for it.”

Syd Stauffer does double duty as the female adventurer Phyllida Spotte-Hume and her extravagant twin sister, Countess Glamorgan. “[Phyllida] is a little bit nerdy,” Stauffer says. Contrary to her academic sister, the Countess Glamorgan married into wealth. “She and her sister don’t get along very well in that her sister is so science-y and she is so much more glamorous and concentrates on that and so they butt heads.”

Despite her qualifications, Phyllida’s membership in the club is opposed because she is a woman. “She is very proud of her accomplishments and she does feel that she deserves to be part of the club. However, she does know how difficult it’s going to be and how she’s not going to be received very well,” Stauffer says.

“She’s very aware that she’s trying to do something next to the impossible and she’s trying to take this but she meets a lot of obstacles along the way. She can see them staring her down, pushing her out of the room and not including her in things. There’s one particular character who’s right in her face and constantly just tells her “women are dirt” [and calls her] “harlot.”

Phyllida finds an ally in the soft-spoken, bookish Lucius (pronounced LU-see-us per Boyer’s direction as an added touch of faux sophistication). Thomas Rush describes his character as “the guy next door. Maybe even the unsung hero. He’s very underplayed. People respect him but there’s also kind of a joke about him because he is really, really fascinated by his plants that he takes care of.” His relationship with Phyllida “is pure and it’s new. You have someone who’s 33 and he’s never had a relationship. He is completely taken by the beautiful Phyllida and all that she brings to the table,” Rush says.

Countering Lucius is the pompous Harry Percy, played by Andrew Beal. “If he [Lucius] were to be the unsung hero, Percy would be the sung hero but he’s singing his own song,” Boyer says.

Beal adds about his character, “He’s an extravagant, dimwitted person. He’s brave, he likes to go on adventures, go to other countries and bring back beasts that he’s killed and talk about braving the elements and [casually mentioning] losing 53 men on his last trip. And he thinks Lucius is being a total wuss about Phyllida.” Percy also boasts about his exploits with women, though his stories are largely unfounded.

Rounding out the cast of eccentric explorers are Zach Goodrich, W. Michael Hollingsworth, Brian McDermott, Bill Mutimer and James Vivian.

Jeremy Thompson plays a NaKong tribesman from a lost city discovered by Phyllida. “[All of the characters] definitely have such specific nuances to each of them,” Stauffer says. Boyer adds, “You’re not going to confuse one of the characters with the other.”

Boyer hopes audiences enjoy the side-splitting comedy. “Without giving away too much, there are three particular places in the play where a lot of physical humor was required of the actors. If they just go away remembering those three scenes I think it will be a success.”

In addition to physical comedy, sarcastic barbs abound. “[There are] also a lot one-liners. You really have to listen closely when you watch this show because it’ll be a nice scene and people will be going back and forth and all of a sudden somebody throws out a line over here and you go, ‘What did he say? What did she say?’ So, you really have to pay attention to catch all the little nuances,” Boyer says.

The clever humor and layered characters make for a vibrant piece of theater. “I definitely think this is a show that you could come to see two nights in a row or a week apart and take something completely different from it each time because you’re going to pick up on something you didn’t get the first time,” Rush says.

Tickets: paplayhouse.org, 610-865-1192