There’s only one thing better than money: other people’s money.

The mantra, embraced by “Larry the Liquidator" in a new Center Stage production of the hit off-Broadway show “Other People’s Money” at the Southampton Cultural Center’s Levitas Center for the Arts, seemingly reflects the character’s lust for the almighty dollar, a fierce appetite for riches that consumes without conscience.

But in director Michael Disher’s brilliant production, which premiered Friday night, characters are finely drawn and deeply textured — and there are no absolutes.

“Rights and wrongs are never clearly defined when personal motives are involved,” Disher said after the show. “They become subjective and specific to the opinion of the individual.”

This is thinking man’s theater at its best. “Other People’s Money” is a thought provoking piece that sparks animated discourse; an enraptured audience emerges from the theater engaged in lively debate.

The show tells the story of Wall Street raider Lawrence Garfinkle, a shark hellbent on acquiring the decades-old New England Wire and Cable, a family business helmed by Andrew “Jorgy” Jergenson.

What unfolds on the stage, however, is not just the tale of a lustful Wall Street takeover orchestrated by the donut-popping, power-hungry, and ultimately, lonely man behind the evil machinations. The piece demands audiences decide whether industry is just about money — or about the men and women who call a company home after decades of service. Whether a local business is just a means to bolster profit-lined coffers — or a place where friendships are born and memories made.

“Other People’s Money” pits unfettered loyalty against fierce ambition; love and family against a shifting world that renders years of service meaningless in the face of corporate greed.

What makes Disher’s production shine — this is perhaps his most insightful and intense theatrical staging to date — is the fact that each character believes strongly in his or her own version of the truth. Whether it be Garfinkle’s conviction in his role as a modern day Robin Hood, guiding investors to the glittering promise of gold, or Jorgy’s steely determination to keep his business alive, not just for the millions, but for the many longtime small town employees who give his quest deeply personal meaning, passion fuels every plot twist.

The show is also a love story, as Jorgy and his longtime employee Bea Sullivan share a vision and a bond that has endured the test of time.

And it’s about the stormy relationship between Sullivan and her daughter, Kate, an on-the-rise New York attorney who’s determined to thwart the hostile takeover and Garfinkle — all for the price of a donut.

“Other People’s Money: The Ultimate Seduction,” was originally written by Jerry Sterner and adapted into a 1991 film starring Danny DeVito. The show was the winner of the Outer Critics Circle Best Off-Broadway Play in 1989.

Each actor in Disher’s finely assembled cast is a standout, giving voice to the rich dialogue and writing that distinguishes “Other People’s Money.” Daniel Becker, as Garfinkle — most recently seen Disher’s production of “Cabaret” — delivers a star-making turn and career-defining performance in his riveting portrayal.

Terrance Fiore, a familiar constellation on the East End canvas, is equally compelling as he masterfully captures the essence of a proud, New England bastion of business threatened with obsolescence, struggling to remain steadfast in the face of a rapidly changing world.

Mary Ellen Roche, most recently seen in Disher’s production of “The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee,” brings aching tenderness and unwavering loyalty to Sullivan’s character, and Kasia Klimiuk’s Kate Sullivan is a tour de force. Seth Hendricks, as William Coles, presents a well-crafted performance of a character torn between abject ambition and his own humanity.

The questions raised in Disher’s must-see production resonate long after the actors have taken their final bow.

“Money is power,” concluded Disher in an interview Saturday. “Always has been and always will be. Unfortunately, many will place their desire for wealth above their hopes for humanity. I think every character realizes that choices create consequences — and not always the one they had anticipated or projected.”

"Other People's Money" will be performed through Feb. 6. Thursday through Saturday performances are at 8 p.m., with Sunday matinees at 2:30 p.m. General admission is $22, and the student rate, for those under 21 with ID, is $10. Group rates are available and reservations are encouraged. For tickets, call Southampton Cultural Center at 631-287-4377 or visit scc-arts.org.