A great battle about re-enacting great battles will take thestage at the Haven this weekend when Brookhaven Little Theatreperforms “Shiloh Rules.”

The play, written by Doris Baizley and set at Shiloh BattlefieldPark in Tennessee, details the conflict and reconciliation amongsix women when two of them compete for the title of best femaleCivil War re-enactor of the year. With a touch of hilarity thathighlights the age-old hard feelings between Yankees andSoutherners, “Shiloh Rules” satires the historic arguments thatstill cause consternation today.

“The issues that faces this country 150 years ago are kind ofstill with us,” said director James Minter. “Throughout the play,these women despise each other, but at the end they becomefriends.”

“Shiloh Rules” goes onstage Friday and Saturday at 7:30 p.m.,and on Sunday at 2 p.m. The performance will repeat next weekend onFeb. 25 and 26 at 7:30 p.m.

Minter said the all-female cast gets equal billing in the play -no one is a star and no one supports.

Mickie Ramsey plays the part of Mrs. Cecilia Delauney Pettison,a Confederate refugee re-enactor so dedicated to her role herfriends have trouble knowing when she’s in character or out. She isrespected by the other characters because she’s been “there” – soimmersed in her re-enacting that she almost believes she’s on thebattlefield in 1862.

She’s accompanied by Lucy Gale Scruggs, a new Confederatere-enactor played by Marley Myers.

Miss Clara May Abbot is a Union nurse re-enactor played by LeeMoore, and her nurse-in-training is Meg Barton, played by HeatherThurgood. Susan Dunaway plays the part of Widow Beckwith, aconcessionaire and newsletter publisher for the Rebels and theFederals. LaTasha Fields plays the part of Ranger Wilson, a blackpark ranger who tries desperately – and fails – to stay clear ofthe war between the women.

“I think people will enjoy the competition and the comedy,” Leesaid. “It is serious, and it does bring a little reality to whatthe Civil War did involve.”

Just like real Civil War re-enactors, Minter’s actresses will beas authentic as possible, wearing period clothing and even carrying1860s reproduction firearms loaned to BLT by a re-enactor relatedto the director.

The proper guns, the period dress and the best proper Charlestonaccent Ramsey can produce should make “Shiloh Rules” a hit inhistory-loving Brookhaven, she said.

“Being a Yankee and growing up in Wisconsin … I never knew howtied to the land these people are,” she said. “Heritage is very,very strong in the South. I never quite understand that. Now Ido.”