Cessy Newmon
The Alhambra Theatre launches into 2025 with the fast-paced comedy, SOUTHERN FRIED FUNERAL, one of two plays by writing duo Osborne and Eppler.
Set in Mississippi, SOUTHERN FRIED FUNERAL’s action takes place over several days in August in the home of Dorothy Frye (Peg Pachal), who has just lost her husband, Dewey. Dorothy is faced with dealing with funeral arrangements and the realities of widowhood amongst a crazy assembly of family and friends. Ms. Frye plays a beautifully understated matron of the family, allowing the antics around her to appear that much larger than life.
SOUTHERN FRIED FUNERAL is not about the actual funeral, but around characters as color as you’d find in any Southern neighborhood and relationships as diverse. Dorothy has three children: Harlene (Logen Cheatham), Sammy Jo (Natalie Drake), and Dewey Jr. (Ryan Lemmon). Sammy Jo has a bee in her bonnet from the get-go, and seems to be taking her anger at the world out on anyone in her path. Harlene, actually the older of the two, had left home a decade earlier, and is consistently berated by her sister. Many of the best scenes in the show are the battles between the sisters, with Ms. Cheatham and Ms. Drake so swift and fluid in their banter, that you would swear you’re watching two sisters have it out. Mr. Lemmon plays the slow, but loveable, Dewey Jr. with a lovely consistency that lets you feel for him and laugh with him without feeling sorry.
Into this family mix and causing extra family drama is added Dub Frye (Tom Cassaro), the late Dewey’s brother. With the right blend of condescension and slime, Mr. Cassaro announces his plans to take the land on which the family’s house sits, before Dewey is even buried.
The last of the family is rounded out with Beecham Lafette (Calvin Bernardo), the beleaguered husband of Sammy Jo who takes as much verbal lashing as her sister. While Harlene is not married, it’s pretty clear that she and local attorney, Atticus Van Leer (Thaddeus Walker), have long-held feelings for each other. Both men hold their straighter roles perfectly to complement their female partners.
There is no dearth of color in the characters rounding out SOUTHERN FRIED FUNERAL‘s ensemble cast. Martha Ann Fox (Patti Eyler) tends to be Dorothy’s right-hand friend keeping other characters in line. This would include Fairy June Cooper (Kathy Sanders), who, true to her name, has a head that’s in another world. Benny Charles Greenwood (Bob O’Hara) is harmless enough, but Ozella Meeks (Brooks Anne Meierdierks) is the town busibody that everyone, including the audience, would like to strangle.
There are several nice plot-twists at the end, making this show fun and somewhat unpredicatable. While there’s not really anything that would preclude youngsters from seeing the show, it might not be as easy to understand what’s going on. For teens on up, it can be a fun family night, date night, or even solo outing if you just want an escape for an evening.
SOUTHERN FRIED FUNERAL is at the Alhambra Theatre, 12000 Beach Blvd., Jan 9th – Feb 9th, 2025. Ticket and season ticket prices vary based on show and seating. For reservations and information, go to alhambrajax.com or call (904) 641-1212.
Cessy Newmon
Follow FOLIO!