A chance meeting between four middle aged women results in the formation of a weekly happy hour society. As their bonds of friendship grow, each begins to rediscover herself in a new phase of life. This is The Savannah Sipping Society by Jamie Wooten, Jessie Jones, and Nicholas Hope and is currently playing at Maples Repertory Theatre.
This is a truly funny slice of life story. The dialogue sparks and crackles with witty repartee and deadly sharp one liners. Even more impressive is the fact that Wooten, Jones, and Hope have written a show that manages to keep an audience’s attention without benefit of a centralizing story. This show is truly just a show about friendship and how these friends support each other through their individual arcs. Each character is going through a major life change that can be universally understood by an audience: divorce, death of a loved one, job loss, and finding one’s self. As a unit, these four women work through these life changes and buoy each other as they become better versions of themselves due to the power of their friendship which enables them to overcome the obstacles in their paths to become more than they thought possible.
Talky shows are a difficult sell. Talky comedies are even more difficult because it requires a masterful handling of the dialogue to sell it without benefit of sight gags and hijinks and a minute understanding of characters and their interactions to get the show where it needs to be. Thanks to Peter Reynolds’ top notch direction, I have seen the best talky comedy ever.
Reynolds coaches a high caliber cast who keep the energy high and know just what words to hit to pick every piece of delectable fruit from the verbal tree of this comedy. His understanding of the characters and how they interact is spot on as I fully believed in the friendship of this foursome in spite of their individual quirks.
As played by Erin Kelley, Randa Covington is a stick in the mud’s stick in the mud. Randa has no life outside of her career and tries to live life logically which goes to pot after she is fired from her job. Ms Kelley is wonderful as the overly serious and cautious Randa who is too focused on material success due to a desire to stick it to her dysfunctional family and too stiff to enjoy life. Seeing her loosen up and realize that life is an adventure to be experienced and learning what makes for a true family is one of the highlights of the production.
Nancy Marcy almost steals the show as Marlafaye Mosley. Ms Marcy’s Marlafaye is the group friend whom you always feel will embarrass the group. She has no internal filter or tact and says whatever she is thinking whenever she feels like it. On the other hand, if you have a friend in her, you’ll have a friend for life and one who would walk into the depths of hell with you to watch your back. Rare is the performer who can deliver a punchline like Ms Marcy who throws off acid tongue zingers as if they’re second nature. Her performance is worth the price of a ticket by itself.
Donna M. Parrone is sweet as Dot Haigler. Her interpretation of Dot will remind you of your own mother due to her kindliness and supportiveness and her occasional half step off attempts to fit in to the group activities. Dot is definitely the most sympathetic character as life seems to beat her up a bit more than the others. But Ms Parrone brings real strength to the character and shows it’s not about how hard you hit, but by how hard you get hit and yet keep moving forward.
Megan Opalinski is a riot as Jinx Jenkins. Ms Opalinski’s Jinx is the friend who always manages to talk you into doing something against your better judgment. She’s brassy, confident, stylish, and always looking for the next adventure. But Ms Opalinski also brings a real dramatic heft to the character as she is on the search for an unknown something that keeps her from settling down in one place. From her lovely performance, we learn the best meaning of the word family in both contexts, i.e. the ones you choose and the ones you get.
P. Bernard Killian’s set is a beaut with the large veranda of the yellow house with the stunning Georgian columns and the glass French doors. Yvonne Johnson expertly costumes her performers appropriate to their personalities from the subdued, business garments of Randa, to the white trash garb of Marlafaye, to the motherly wear of Dot, and the stylish clothes of Jinx. Also impressive were some medieval gowns for a Renaissance fair scene, especially Marlafaye’s jester costume.
There were a few minor blips in lines and cue pickups, but this show is going to make you laugh yourself hoarse and It just might pull a tear from your eye along the way.
The Savannah Sipping Society plays at Maples Repertory Theatre through July 27 at Maples Repertory Theatre. Showtimes are 2pm on June 22, 25-26, 29-30, July 5, 9-10, 12-14, 21, and 27 and at 7:30pm on July 3, 12, 20, 24, 26. Tickets begin at $24 and can be obtained by calling the box office at 660-385-2924 or visiting www.maplesrep.com. Maples Repertory Theatre is located at 102 N Rubey St in Macon, MO.
Chris' Corner 