By Sara QuamThe lutefisk might hit the fan in the Palace Theatre this weekend, as a hilarious Minnesota musical takes stage."Don’t Hug Me" is an award-winning play set in a north woods bar during the coldest time of the year. It’s billed as "Fargo" meets "The Music Man," minus the blood and trombones.The plot is this: Bar owner Gunner Johnson (Bruce Baartman) is ready to sell the bar and move to Florida with his wife, Clara (Terri Ebert), who would rather stay right where she is.Bernice Lundstrom (Heidi Sandbulte), the pretty waitress, wants to pursue a singing career, against the wishes of her fiancé, Kanute Gunderson (Steve Swayze). The play is about a battle of the wills that tests both relationships … until a fast-talking salesman, Aarvid Gisselson (Casey McKenzie), promises to bring romance into their lives through the "magic" of karaoke. The play was created by brothers and Minnesotans, Dr. Paul Olson and Phil Olson.Paul wrote the music and Phil wrote the script and lyrics. "Don’t Hug Me" was actually the longest running musical comedy in Los Angeles when it closed after six months. Cast member Terri Ebert isn’t a bit surprised by the success of the play. She said, "Every night I laughed until I cried during practices. The songs are so hokey and the cast had so much fun that they really got into their parts. And I love the fact that I can wear jeans, sweatshirts, flannel shirts and boots."Ebert, a seasoned Green Earth Player, usually has very specific costumes for her roles.Audience members are also invited to attend in "traditional Minnesota" attire of jeans and flannels or sweatshirts, too. As a cross promotion to the play, the United Methodist Church, Luverne is having a hotdish dinner from 6 to 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 29. The dinner also features Jell-O and other state favorites. The play is directed by Shane Amborn and Shawn Kinsinger, the youngest directors Green Earth has had. They are familiar to local audiences as actors, in "Arsenic and Old Lace," for example, but this is their first time directing. Amborn said, "We talked about directing before and I thought that as a team it would be OK. I wouldn’t have been able to do it without Shawn."The two have been friends for about 10 years and also work together as manager and assistant manager at a hotel in Sioux Falls.When the play was chosen by Green Earth Players and they were signed on to direct it, they went to Minneapolis to see a production of it. Amborn said, "I never stopped laughing. It ranged from a chuckle to gut-busting, gut-wrenching, tears-streaming-down-your-face laughter."A Minnesota audience will understand the humor, which still affects Ebert, even though she’s been rehearsing for a long time.Ebert said, "My biggest challenge will be not to laugh when Bruce sings to me."Along with the humor, the play has a sweet message.Kinsinger said, "It’s really centered on relationships. One is an older marriage that is struggling and another is one that is just starting out, and maybe shouldn’t be."Ebert said, "The audience will like the songs and they’ll get to know each character. After that, they’ll learn to appreciate their own families."Showtimeso8 p.m. Friday and Saturday, Oct. 21 and Oct. 22 o2 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 23o8 p.m. Friday and Saturday, Oct. 28 and Oct. 29o2 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 30 Reserve tickets for the show are available at the Carnegie Cultural Center, Luverne. That phone number is 283-8294.