by dick kerekes dickkerekes@yahoo.com
Look at the history of theatre and you find that it has amused and entertained but it is also a powerful instrument for exploring and attempting to understand the world we live in. Theatre can be controversial or reassuring, subversive or conservative, diverting or enlightening. It can be all of these and more. It is something that people need as a tool to look at how we live and think.
Southern Baptist Sissies explores the premise of being gay in the south. Four young men in Dallas Texas describe how they handle being gay in a strict religious environment and the paths they are taking to find self-acceptance. The language is frank and cutting edge and the situations they describe may be a revelation to some.
The principal setting is a church in Dallas in present time, with various other locations and no time line.
Preacher Reify is a central character and the play revolves around him since his precepts influence the four men. Wonderfully played by Gene LeRoy, Reify is a good book thumping, no nonsense, and no compromise man of the cloth. Enoch Belcher is Brother Chaffey, and plays the church piano for the hymns that are sung.
Mark (Zack Bass) is very critical of the scripture passages quoted that scorn and dismisses homosexuality. He would like to be accepted by the church for what he is and does not want to deceive in order to be a part of the church.
T. J. (Kevin Edwards) has a sexual encounter with Mark, but turns from being gay, by becoming born again and later marrying.
Benny (Charles Brown), does his own thing, and cares nothing about religious and flaunts his homosexuality as a transvestite. Mr. Brown does some show stopping songs in lip sync dressed in drag.
Andrew (Shane Cottrell) is shy and introverted and hides his homosexual feelings from everyone with tragic results in the end.
Harriet Leathem plays the mothers to all the boys, using several changes of clothing and wigs. She is excellent in all her roles, giving each their own identity.
In a subplot is the appearance of two alcoholic barflies who share a table every night at a gay bar. Odette Anette is played by Shirley McGrath as a boozing brassy broad who is not gay, but is very sexual. She has some of the funniest lines in the show. She says,” If my bed could talk, it would never shut up.” She adds, “Distance and darkness are a girl’s best friend.”
As her drinking partner, Walter Fitzwater plays “Peanut”, an aging homosexual in an over the top performance. His character is both funny and sad and the skillful Fitzwater explores both aspects to perfection.
The four young men speak to the audience in monologues and their performances are poignant and definitely award winning.
The set was simple, but this is a show where the emphasis is on what is said. Mark Rubens on light handled a rather complicated light program (at least for this theater), very professionally.
The play was directed by Bill Kroner and Erin Searcy, with the directors showing a great sensitivity to the material and how to present it.
Del Shores is a playwright who has produced films and television. Jacksonville audiences know his work. Sordid Lives was a big hit at First Coast Theatre a couple of years ago and was equally as popular last year when produced by FCCJ at South Campus. ABET produced Shores’ Daddy’s Dying (Who’s Got the Will) to rave reviews last year.
Southern Baptist Sissies sold out for sixteen months in Los Angeles, then went to Dallas and repeated its success. Interesting, many of the patrons in Dallas, where the play is set, were members of the very religious community portrayed in the play.
Boys in the Band was a groundbreaking play that expanded our knowledge of homosexuality. This play is certainly an eye opener and ends, I think on a very positive note.
Southern Baptist Sissies runs through October 28th, on Friday and Saturday evenings. There will be one matinee on October 15th at 2:30 pm. This is a small intimate theatre, so reservations are an absolute must. Call 387 5276. This play may shock you, enlighten you and even make you laugh. It is an interesting evening of theatre.
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