SOUTH KINGSTOWN — Opinions ran strong on both sides last night as the Town Council sought public input on a local theater that needs a license to continue offering performances that are a hit with the arts community but opposed by many neighbors.

Council members listened for nearly two hours as lawyers for the Cornerstone Playhouse and its neighbors expressed their views, followed by theater supporters and opponents.

The council took no action and instead tabled the issue until Nov. 26.

For a few minutes, it was unclear whether the 100 or so residents who came to Town Hall were going to be allowed to speak.

Theater proprietor Margaret Fradette and her lawyer, Neil Philbin, told the council as the discussion started that Fradette wanted to submit a new application that puts the theater under the same business entity she uses to run the adjacent True Blue Cafe.

From that point on, it was clear that there would be no decision, but supporters and opponents took advantage of the opportunity to speak.

Supporters from South Kingstown, Narragansett, the University of Rhode Island faculty and elsewhere described the theater and the cafe, which features live music, as jewels that should be welcomed and supported.

“You’ve got something really good here, a wonderful educational and a wonderful cultural asset to the town,” said George Willis, a South Kingstown resident and a professor at the University of Rhode Island. “It’s what we need. All you need to do is iron out the things with parking and a few other things.”

Betsy Leaper, a former South County resident who now lives in Connecticut, said the theater and the cafe invite “the best of what South County is all about.”

“Before the days of DVD, MTV and Surround Sound, people gathered to enjoy each other’s company and enjoy live entertainment,” she said.

Opponents said the music and theater idea is a good one, but not at the current location — 213 Robinson St., in Wakefield.

Robinson Street resident Matthew O’Sullivan said he was familiar with the names of some of the performers who spoke last night “because I can clearly hear your names as I’m putting my son to sleep.”

“We’re not against what they’re trying to do,” O’Sullivan said. “It’s where they’re trying to do it.”

Freeman Healey, former owner of the Healy News Store, said the store lost 20 percent of its business last year because the theater is causing parking problems. He added that he was “willing to show the numbers” to any council members who are interested.

Howard Goldsmith, owner of the Sawmill building in which the theater and cafe are located, said the building and other properties nearby provide nine parking spaces that are required for a capacity of 49.

Some speakers, including James Donnelly, a lawyer representing the Healy family, questioned whether the Goldsmith building has enough parking, while others questioned why the cafe and theater, though separate businesses, would each have a capacity for 49 — the maximum for the building.

Fradette has said that the total occupancy from the two businesses will be limited to 49. The decision to apply for the theater license under the same business name as the cafe appeared to be an attempt to alleviate concerns about the occupancy limit and concerns, raised by Town Manager Stephen Alfred, about who would be in charge of the two businesses in the long term and whether it would be the same people.

Fradette said in a recent interview that she opened the blackbox theater after discovering unused space next to the cafe. The theater has hosted three well-publicized productions.

Fradette has also applied to the Zoning Board for special-use permits to allow the True Blue Cafe to sell beer and wine and offer entertainment for a cover charge. That request is scheduled to be tonight.