Learning foreign accents hasn't been the easiest task for JeDeMi Productions founders and actors Dena Sexton, Jerry Johnson and Mike Redlinger.

"It's the Spanish and the German that are a little tricky for us," Sexton said.

But they have come to find imperfect accents have more comic appeal than perfection.

Any way they say it, JeDeMi will speak the language of love in "Five Course Love," which opens Valentine's Day at the Decatur Club Ballroom. The dinner-theatre performance will run until Feb. 16.

Taking on Spanish, Texan, Italian, German and a 1950s accent for the musical comedy production, the actors have studied television shows and movies, but not too much.

"It's really Mel Brooks' try at accents rather than making them sound authentic," Johnson said.

"There's no way we can do them without laughing. That's what makes it fun," Sexton said. "We crack ourselves up."

The cast will take on 15 different characters, five roles per actor, in the 75-minute, intermission-free production.

In the fast-paced, over-the-top show, Johnson said, each scene flows into the next, and there will always be someone on stage despite several costume changes.

"It's actually smaller than the last few shows we've done," Johnson said. "We thought it'd be a fun show to do with the three of us and a piano player.

"It's about love, but not taken too seriously. Most people can connect with that, or at least looking for love."

The plot focuses on all of the characters in five restaurants, with each place having a distinct cuisine and musical style.

"It's almost all learned through song," Johnson said of the storyline. The show is recommended for mature audiences.

"All of the music, melodies are very toe-tapping and hilarious," Sexton said, with the costumes also adding hilarity to the production.

"I'm going to get all my laughs out at dress rehearsal," she said. "I know that's going to make me laugh."

While most theatrical productions have a defined lead character, Johnson said "Five Course Love" brings everyone to the spotlight with lines and wacky songs for all.

"We do it for fun," Johnson said of performing, "but it's always nice when you have an audience."

WHAT: "Five Course Love," dinner theater by JeDeMi Productions.

WHEN: Thursday through Saturday, Feb. 14 to 16; dinner at 6 p.m., show at 7:30 p.m.

WHERE: Decatur Club Ballroom, 158 W. Prairie Ave.

TICKETS: $35, including dinner, tax and gratuity, at the Decatur Club, 429-4200.

ON THE WEB: www.jedemi.org.

Alicia Spates can be reached at aspates@herald-review.com or 421-6986.