They’re crude. They’re mad. They swear. They scream. They play loud, angry punk rock. They’re ... a quartet of suburban middle-aged housewives.

Say what? Repeat that last phrase, please?

You heard it right. And if you’ve also listened to the word of mouth on the streets of Burien, or from the rockin’ crowd of Red Hat Ladies on opening night, you know that everyone’s talking about Angry Housewives -- the latest musical show at Burien Little Theatre, which opened this past weekend.

This is a story about four housewives who are at the end of their ropes.

Bev (Laurie Samora) is a widow who is desperate to make financial ends meet. She has tried everything, including selling cosmetics at home parties. Nothing has worked. Her teenage son Tim (Nick Bradford) escapes the stress of impending poverty by retreating into punk rock music.

Carol (Laura Sweaney) is a recently divorced music teacher who complains of being old and fat. Having been laid off from her last teaching job, Carol could also use a boost to her pocketbook.

Wendy (Stacie Hart) works as a drawbridge operator, but dreams of pursuing more meaningful (and better paying) goals. Her nerdy boyfriend Wallace (Doug Cotrill) is a recent millionaire from winning a big stakes fishing derby and hopes to sail to Hawaii on his new boat.

Jetta (Gail Wamba) never has to worry about money, but feels trivialized and unappreciated by her corporate attorney husband Larry (Bruce Eriksen). A new mother, Jetta is feeling trapped in her current circumstances and yearns for more freedom.

One evening, after failing to interest her best friends into purchasing any “Betty Jean” cosmetics, Bev expresses her desperation to the other women. Upon reading a flyer about a punk rock talent competition (it pays $2,000!) at a club owned by a fellow called Lewd Fingers (Gavin Donnellan), Wendy suggests they form their own band and enter the contest.

The “Angry Housewives” are born, much to the chagrin of their husbands, boyfriends and sons. Who do these women think they are, anyway?

Let me answer by saying this, these are four dynamite actresses.

As Wendy the drawbridge technician, Stacie Hart shines. BLT audiences may remember her from 1996’s My Name is Alice. Just like in her work in “Alice,” Hart shows off her versatility as an actor and singer. Hart’s performance is witty, charming, vulnerable and sassy all at the same time.

Former BLT president Laura Sweaney is a strong presence on stage. Burien audiences haven’t had the pleasure of seeing her since 1994’s Mrs. California. Sweaney’s performance as Carol hits a bulls-eye with her sharp comic delivery and boundless energy, which adds life to every scene. Gail Wamba’s Jetta is the perfect corporate wife. Her transformation from shy housewife to angry housewife is stunning ... and a whole lot of fun. Her scenes with Bruce Erikson (as husband Larry) work naturally and convincingly.

Laurie Samora as Bev has some of the best dialogue in the show during her interactions with her brooding son Tim. Nick Bradford plays nicely off of her to give those scenes the sense of balance so necessary in comedy.

Diane Major directs this fun-filled, full-of-attitude show, with music direction by Sarah Hanson and set/lighting design by Steve Cooper.

In case you’re not particularly a fan of punk rock music, don’t worry. Angry Housewives has something for everyone. Songs range from rock to vaudeville and everything in between, but it all adds up to an evening of rockin’ good fun. Just ask all the ladies in red hats. The A.M. Collins/Chad Henry musical continues through April 2, Fridays and Saturdays at 8 p.m. and Sundays at 2 p.m. Tickets are $13 and $15, with Sunday matinees $13 for all seats. Call BLT at 206-242-5180 to make reservations.

Performances are at the Burien Community Center at Southwest 146th Street and Fourth Avenue Southwest.

Aya Takechi volunteers her time at the Burien Little Theatre. However, she is not a part of the production team for “Angry Housewives”