Quirky Southern characters abound in Theatre of Gadsden's production of 'Sordid Lives'
Go ahead and bring Kitty, Loretta and Tammy Wynette with you, ‘cause TOG’s got a show to do.
Theatre of Gadsden is bringing “Sordid Lives” to stage — a play subtitled “a black comedy about white trash.”
For two weekends (Sept. 8-10 and 15-17), the show will make you laugh out loud, maybe shed a tear and show off a variety of quirky characters that Southern patrons may find all too familiar.
Set in the 1990s in Winters, Texas, the comedy centers on the death of Peggy Ingram, a good Christian woman and the family matriarch, who hits her head on a sink and bleeds to death after tripping over her lover’s wooden legs in a motel room. Chaos only erupts from there as the family prepares to gather for the funeral.
“Every character is a bit gritty,” said director Mike Beecham. “No character in this show is above reproach; they all have deep flaws.”
“I think audiences will enjoy the fact that each of our families has at least one of these characters as part of our family tree,” said Billy Jenkins, who plays Earl “Brother Boy” Ingram in TOG’s production. “Some we see every day, but others we only see around the holidays or yearly family reunions.”
One such character is Brother Boy — a “misunderstood but lovable character who is the black sheep of the family,” according to Jenkins. (Brother Boy performs regularly as Tammy Wynette for patients at the mental institution where he resides.)
TOG advises that the play isn’t suitable for all audiences, including children. Strong language, adult content and themes, and loud gunshot effects are used in the production.
However, for many patrons, “Sordid Lives” will be a delightful romp, while also incorporating some valuable takeaways.
“This show isn’t for everyone, but true Southerners who have relatives who are not always ‘above board,’ who have frailties and failings, will surely be able to identify,” Beecham said.
Under all the “uniquely Southern” relatable gags (“like checking the bottom of a potluck dish before you eat what’s in it,” adds Stage Manager Lyndsie Gunter), the laughter, and the “white trash-y” moments, the overarching theme of "Sordid Lives" is acceptance — including embracing (literally and figuratively) family and being there for those who need us.
“So many things are happening that epitomize this family as white trash, but in the end it’s all about acceptance of our differences,” said Jenkins. “Through all our differences, we often fail to see our similarities.”
Friday and Saturday shows are at 7 p.m.; Sunday shows are at 2 p.m. All performances are at the historic Ritz Theatre, 310 Wall St. in Alabama City.
Tickets are $20 for adults, $18 for students/seniors/military and $15 for groups of 10 or more.
For tickets, visit www.theatreofgadsden.org or call 256-547-SHOW (7469).
This article originally appeared on The Gadsden Times: Theatre of Gadsden presents 'Sordid Lives'
