In November 2009, Bend playwright Cricket Daniel’s first comedy, “Couple Dating,” had its world premiere at the Linkville Playhouse in Klamath Falls.

An edgy comedy about a couple auditioning potential new friends, “Couple Dating” ended up being the highest-grossing play of the Linkville Playhouse’s 2009-2010 season, Daniel said.

A few months later, in April 2010, Daniel independently produced “Couple Dating” at 2nd Street Theater in Bend, where it has returned with a largely intact cast and the same director, Susan Benson (see “If you go”).

The 2010 production launched a teacup tempest in Bend: People argued about its merits, or lack thereof, on social media. An anonymous letter calling the play offensive ran in The Source Weekly. And, as can happen with controversial entertainment, a lot of tickets were sold, Daniel and Benson said.

The sitcom-style play concerns Tess and Bobby Marotta. Tess, played by Vanessa Farnsworth, is determined to make new friends, and the Brooklyn-born-and-raised Bobby “is not on board with this,” Daniel explained. Bobby (Michael Nowak), a character the playwright likens to Archie Bunker, “is very frank, and very clear to Tess, in adult language and content, that he does not enjoy these people in his home.” (Needless to say, “Couple Dating” is intended for mature audiences only.)

“(Tess) wants to hang out with more couples who are more like them (with) young families. These couples who come into their home are couples Bobby and Tess normally wouldn’t hang out with. So, basically, you’re a fly on the wall when Bobby complains about the types of people who are in his living room.”

As for her first play’s repeat engagement, Daniel said people have asked her since its initial run when they might see again. And she suspects there are some who may have missed it the first time around.

“I don’t think it will be 100 percent repeat customers,” she said.

Now a more seasoned playwright with a couple of other plays under her belt, Daniel has tweaked the material a bit. Changes include dropping a reference to a Jewish person some took as anti-Semitic.

“To her credit, she did go back and change a couple of things that she rethought. She’s very good about being open-minded, and taking those things into consideration, so she did soften a few lines up a little bit,” Benson said.

But Bobby is still Bobby — and controversy can still be good for business.

“It’s always good for a show,” Benson said. “If you have a little bit of controversy, it drives ticket sales. People just have to see what’s going on, right?”

If you go

What: “Couple Dating”

When: Performances at 7:30 p.m. Thursday through Saturday, 3 p.m. Sunday, through Feb. 2; 6:30 tonight champagne reception

Where: 2nd Street Theater, 220 N.E. Lafayette Ave., Bend

Cost: $18, $15 seniors and students

Contact: www.2ndstreettheater.com or 541-312-9626