Black comedy on white trash
By Joanne Fox Journal staff writer | Posted: Friday, May 02, 2008
Dee Dorsett and Alison Bondy rehearse a scene from "Sordid Lives," the next play at the Sioux City Community Theatre. (Staff photo by Jerry Mennenga)
Sometimes, death brings out the best, the worst or, perhaps, the peculiar in people.
The next production at the Sioux City Community Theatre illustrates that all of these characteristics are in place when a colorful Texas family must come to grips with the accidental death of the family matriarch.
In a style reminiscent of the most unusual supermarket tabloid tales, "Sordid Lives" examines small-town life and all of the foibles and peccadillos that accompany it.
Peggy Ingram -- discussed at length but not portrayed -- dies during a clandestine meeting in a seedy motel room with her married neighbor, G.W. Nethercott, (Tim Hess) whose wife, Noleta (Alison Bondy), just happens to be best friends with the deceased's daughter.
In a spin on "Enquiring Minds Want To Know," Ingram's family must deal with their own demons. Sissy Hickey (Doreen Massey), Peggy's younger sister, wants to stop smoking. Peggy's daughter, Latrelle (Judy Petrik), is concerned with the embarrassing aspects of the funeral. Another daughter LaVonda is a free spirit, not as concerned with appearances. Her son Ty (Dave Washburn) struggles with coming out of the closet, while Peggy's son, Earl "Brother Boy" Ingram (Dale Hartshorn) is a flamboyantly gay transvestite who has been institutionalized for 23 years.
The term "over the top" applies in discussing Del Shores' R-rated comedy, said Dan Washburn, director of the show.
"It's been called a black comedy about white trash and that's not too far off base," he admitted. "But it also has its touching moments as well."
For example, Ty has bittersweet monologues which are delivered directly to the audience, providing some rational moments before the next bit of buffoonery surfaces. He muses over his choice to live a homosexual lifestyle in a large metropolitan area, but wonders about how that will be received in Winters, Texas.
"The play doesn't shy away from examining gender choice," said Washburn, "as well as how people react to gays."
But in addition to the provocative, there's relationships that are looked at with a keen eye, Washburn added.
"Ty talks about how when he was younger and fatter, his mother would replace the 'husky' labels on his jeans with 'slim' labels so others wouldn't know he wore that size," he said.
That whole idea of appearances is paramount in this production, Washburn said.
"There's much discussion between the daughters about whether or not to show the mother at the wake in a mink coat," he said. "That coat is symbolic of keeping up appearances."
That mindset is further evidenced in the decision to institutionalize Brother Boy, Washburn added.
"The play talks about his cross-dressing and the fact that Brother Boy can't live in a 'normal' society," he said. "The reason isn't about embarrassment as much as it is the belief that Brother Boy would not be safe."
Washburn said that Shores will take the audience on a roller coaster ride before the evening is done.
"He gets you going on these crazy, comedic things, then smacks you with something painful or hurtful," he said. "It's a very evocative and emotional message he sends that's wrapped up in comedy."
"Sordid Lives" opens tonight and continues through May 18 at the Sioux City Community Theatre, 1401 Riverside Blvd. Show times are 7:30 p.m. for Thursday, Friday and Saturday performances. Sunday matinees are at 2 p.m. Tickets are $17 for adults and $16 for seniors and students and are available at the door. Tickets are available online at the theater's Web site, www.scctheatre.org., or by calling the box office between 1 and 5 p.m., Monday through Saturday at 233-2788.
Author, actor scheduled to appear at performance
Author Del Shores will attend the May 17 performance and actor Jason Dottley will appear as Ty Williamson that evening in the Sioux City Community Theatre's presentation of "Sordid Lives."
A reception will be held at 6:30 p.m. on the theater's mezzanine. Following the show, there will be a Q & A/talk-back with both Shores and Dottley.
"Sordid Lives," Shores' fourth play, opened in 1996 and ran 13 months. The play went on to win 14 Drama-Logue Theatre Awards, including three for Shores' writing, directing and producing. In 1999, Shores adapted "Sordid Lives" into a screenplay which starred Beau Bridges, Delta Burke, Olivia Newton-John and Bonnie Bedelia. The movie won many festival awards including Best Film at the New York Independent Film and Video Festival, Memphis International Film Festival and the San Diego International Film Festival.
In television, Shores is most known for producing the final three seasons of the Showtime series, "Queer as Folk," for which he wrote many episodes. He also wrote, directed and executive produced the Showtime movie "The Wilde Girls," staring Olivia Newton-John and Swoozie Kurtz.
Dottley is currently starring as Ty Williamson in "Sordid Lives: The Series" on LOGO in America with a 12-episode first season. Dottley stars with Olivia Newton-John and Rue McClanahan, as well as Bonnie Bedelia, Beth Grant and Caroline Rhea.
Tickets for the entire evening’s events are $25 and are available at the Sioux City Community Theatre Box Office at 1401 Riverside Blvd. Sioux City, or by calling 233-2788, or log onto www.scctheatre.org.
The next production at the Sioux City Community Theatre illustrates that all of these characteristics are in place when a colorful Texas family must come to grips with the accidental death of the family matriarch.
In a style reminiscent of the most unusual supermarket tabloid tales, "Sordid Lives" examines small-town life and all of the foibles and peccadillos that accompany it.
Peggy Ingram -- discussed at length but not portrayed -- dies during a clandestine meeting in a seedy motel room with her married neighbor, G.W. Nethercott, (Tim Hess) whose wife, Noleta (Alison Bondy), just happens to be best friends with the deceased's daughter.
In a spin on "Enquiring Minds Want To Know," Ingram's family must deal with their own demons. Sissy Hickey (Doreen Massey), Peggy's younger sister, wants to stop smoking. Peggy's daughter, Latrelle (Judy Petrik), is concerned with the embarrassing aspects of the funeral. Another daughter LaVonda is a free spirit, not as concerned with appearances. Her son Ty (Dave Washburn) struggles with coming out of the closet, while Peggy's son, Earl "Brother Boy" Ingram (Dale Hartshorn) is a flamboyantly gay transvestite who has been institutionalized for 23 years.
The term "over the top" applies in discussing Del Shores' R-rated comedy, said Dan Washburn, director of the show.
"It's been called a black comedy about white trash and that's not too far off base," he admitted. "But it also has its touching moments as well."
For example, Ty has bittersweet monologues which are delivered directly to the audience, providing some rational moments before the next bit of buffoonery surfaces. He muses over his choice to live a homosexual lifestyle in a large metropolitan area, but wonders about how that will be received in Winters, Texas.
"The play doesn't shy away from examining gender choice," said Washburn, "as well as how people react to gays."
But in addition to the provocative, there's relationships that are looked at with a keen eye, Washburn added.
"Ty talks about how when he was younger and fatter, his mother would replace the 'husky' labels on his jeans with 'slim' labels so others wouldn't know he wore that size," he said.
That whole idea of appearances is paramount in this production, Washburn said.
"There's much discussion between the daughters about whether or not to show the mother at the wake in a mink coat," he said. "That coat is symbolic of keeping up appearances."
That mindset is further evidenced in the decision to institutionalize Brother Boy, Washburn added.
"The play talks about his cross-dressing and the fact that Brother Boy can't live in a 'normal' society," he said. "The reason isn't about embarrassment as much as it is the belief that Brother Boy would not be safe."
Washburn said that Shores will take the audience on a roller coaster ride before the evening is done.
"He gets you going on these crazy, comedic things, then smacks you with something painful or hurtful," he said. "It's a very evocative and emotional message he sends that's wrapped up in comedy."
"Sordid Lives" opens tonight and continues through May 18 at the Sioux City Community Theatre, 1401 Riverside Blvd. Show times are 7:30 p.m. for Thursday, Friday and Saturday performances. Sunday matinees are at 2 p.m. Tickets are $17 for adults and $16 for seniors and students and are available at the door. Tickets are available online at the theater's Web site, www.scctheatre.org., or by calling the box office between 1 and 5 p.m., Monday through Saturday at 233-2788.
Author, actor scheduled to appear at performance
Author Del Shores will attend the May 17 performance and actor Jason Dottley will appear as Ty Williamson that evening in the Sioux City Community Theatre's presentation of "Sordid Lives."
A reception will be held at 6:30 p.m. on the theater's mezzanine. Following the show, there will be a Q & A/talk-back with both Shores and Dottley.
"Sordid Lives," Shores' fourth play, opened in 1996 and ran 13 months. The play went on to win 14 Drama-Logue Theatre Awards, including three for Shores' writing, directing and producing. In 1999, Shores adapted "Sordid Lives" into a screenplay which starred Beau Bridges, Delta Burke, Olivia Newton-John and Bonnie Bedelia. The movie won many festival awards including Best Film at the New York Independent Film and Video Festival, Memphis International Film Festival and the San Diego International Film Festival.
In television, Shores is most known for producing the final three seasons of the Showtime series, "Queer as Folk," for which he wrote many episodes. He also wrote, directed and executive produced the Showtime movie "The Wilde Girls," staring Olivia Newton-John and Swoozie Kurtz.
Dottley is currently starring as Ty Williamson in "Sordid Lives: The Series" on LOGO in America with a 12-episode first season. Dottley stars with Olivia Newton-John and Rue McClanahan, as well as Bonnie Bedelia, Beth Grant and Caroline Rhea.
Tickets for the entire evening’s events are $25 and are available at the Sioux City Community Theatre Box Office at 1401 Riverside Blvd. Sioux City, or by calling 233-2788, or log onto www.scctheatre.org.
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