Something a little different is coming to the San Juan Community Theatre in October.

“I’ll Be Back Before Midnight,” written by Peter Colley, is a special effects-laden comic-drama designed to make you laugh and jump in equal measures.

An interesting but entertaining combination, said guest director Jack Phillips. Phillips explained how the mix of laugh and shock came about by accident: Colley had started out writing a spoof of classical thrillers but when it was finished, the writer realized it was actually quite scary. The result is, according to the director, “a wonderful mixture of comedy and thriller.”

The plot line is riddled with the traditional traps of the thriller. There is the lonely farm house, the peculiar neighbors and the atmospheric thunderstorm. While recovering from an emotional breakdown, a wife is taken out into the country by her husband. Enter a cast of curious and creepy relatives and neighbors and you have the material that drives “I’ll Be Back Before Midnight.”

Phillips said that although the spoof element keeps the play free of any challenging themes or images, it is not suitable for young children. Having said that, he added that at its heart, this play is designed to entertain.

“It’s not a ‘big message’ play, it’s a ‘Let’s spend an hour and a half in the theater and forget about things,’ ” Phillips said.

Rachel Schneider, who plays the wife Jan, agreed. “It’s just good fun,” she said.

The rest of the cast is composed of John Pachuta as Greg, Deb Langhans as Laura, and Ken Serratt as George.

Working with San Juan actors has been one of the joys for Phillips. As a director and producer, he is no stranger to “I’ll Be Back Before Midnight,” having directed and produced it in different locations on three occasions. It is the changing cast that keeps the play fresh and interesting for him.

“It is different every time because the actors are different. While the set looks roughly the same, the actors are not and each time I’ve been able to find something new in them.”

One of the major highlights of the play is the special effects.

“Besides thunder and lightning, windows open by themselves and there are stoves that blow up and murder on stage and a big fight with a sickle and shovel,” Phillips said. The director is also the choreographer for the fight scene.

Phillips said that overall, they play is a good time spent at the theater. “There is mystery, people appear and disappear, murders happen … they’ll come away feeling like they’ve been on a roller coaster.”

The show will run in SJCT’s Whittier Theatre. Show times are as follows: Friday and Saturday, 7:30 p.m.; Oct. 8-9, 7:30 p.m.; Oct. 10, 2 p.m.; Oct. 14-16, 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $21 for adults, $11 Students and student RUSH is $5.

Friday’s show is a Sneak Preview performance with tickets costing $17 for adults and $8 for students. Bargain night is Oct. 14; adult tickets are $15, student tickets $8.