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| June 14–30, 2002 |
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| CLICK IMAGES TO ENLARGE |
Photographs
by George Wada
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| Cast: Allyn Carrell;
Nye Cooper; Sherry Etzel; Robyne Gulledge; Lisa Hassler; Tippi
Hunter; Jack Hurst; Steve Lovett; Donald McDonald; Angela Wilson;
and Ted Wold. |
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| Tom Sime, The Dallas Morning
News |
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The movie version of Sordid Lives
has weathered critical scorn to become a burgeoning cult favorite.
The original stage version is a perennial already. It's a slam-dunk
of a comedy, and even the somewhat troubled state of Uptown
Players' production, which opened Friday at the Trinity River
Arts Center, couldn't dampen the performers' glee over the gag-packed
script.
As opening-night crises go, however, Uptown had a doozy when
actress Robyne Gulledge took ill and was hospitalized shortly
before curtain – 15 minutes before, we were told. So director
Andi Allen, on book but en pointe, filled in as betrayed and
vengeful small-town Texas housewife Noleta Nethercott. Ms. Allen's
tearful first scene – no doubt some of the tears were the real
thing – set the stage for this wacky comedy. It must be tempting
to play it all to the hilt, and most of the actors do. It works;
the writing isn't exactly subtle. But Lisa Hassler hits a more
powerful note by playing it straight. Her Latrelle's secret
weapon is sincerity. Sordid Lives allows for both method and
madness. |
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| Perry Stewart, Star-Telegram |
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The term "over the top" can be
used liberally in discussing almost any production of Sordid
Lives. Del Shores' R-rated comedy. And many actors take liberties
with the script. How unusual and refreshing to find nuance and
near-restraint in a portrayal of the most broadly concocted
character in the play.
In a new staging of Sordid Lives by Uptown Players, Ted Wold
wrenches funny bones and pulls at heartstrings as Brother
Boy, a flamboyantly gay transvestite whose family has institutionalized
him in hopes of "curing" his homosexuality. The 1997 regional
premiere of this play at Fort Worth's Circle Theatre featured
TV star Leslie Jordan as Brother Boy. If you joined the Sordid
cult after viewing that 1997 production or its 1998 encore,
the new Dallas edition is a must-see. It's also a rewarding
introduction to the comedy.
The play opens with preparations for the funeral of Peggy Ingram.
Should Ty, her grandson, fly home for the funeral? Probably
not, concludes Ty, who is comfortable being gay in New York
but not in Winters. This character's bittersweet monologues
are delivered to his psychiatrist (who is you, the playgoer).
They provide welcome relief from the general buffoonery and,
in this instance, they underscore a deftly shaded portrait by
Nye Cooper. Lisa Hassler maintains superb balance along a precarious
tightrope as Ty's in-denial mother. Steve Lovett hits the mark
in two roles: Odell; and a preacher right out of Greater Tuna. |
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| John Garcia, Talkin'
Broadway |
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This production needs to be sponsored
by Tylenol because when you leave the show, your head is pounding
from releasing so much laughter from your body.
This past season I have observed some truly outstanding work
from some of our women directors within this artistic community.
You can now add Andi Allen to this list! This actress/playwright/director
has created one of the funniest comedies of the season, hands
down!
For this production, Allen could not have cast this any
better. Allen also earns commendations for giving a balance
to the various forms of comedy that are being presented on
stage. Some actors portray their roles with over the top abandonment,
and that works perfectly for this production. But she also
has other actors that are more natural and organic-and that
also works beautifully for this production. So you have two
techniques of comedic acting in one production, but they balance
each other and give the comedy much more impact.
Within this brilliant cast are some hilarious actors: Angela
Wilson as "Lavonda", the tramp of this family we meet; "Latrelle
Williamson", the only good one in this wacky family, is played
to perfection by Lisa Hassler; Donald McDonald is a comical
riot as the lover who lost his mistress; Steve Lovett has two
roles to play with, thus creating two characters that earned
their own basket full of laughs.
Ted Wold portrays "Earl 'Brother Boy' Ingram". This role
can be played over the top, but instead Wold goes for a more
natural, organic, and honest approach to the role, resulting
in an outright splendid performance. Wold is another comic gem
of a performance in this already jeweled crown of comic work
by this magnificent cast. Also in the cast, delivering excellent
performances, are Nye Cooper as "Ty Williamson" and Allyn Carrell
as "Sissy Hickey".
In this cast of brilliant actors, there was one comic powerhouse
performance – Robyne Gulledge! This is the performance
that had me crossing my legs because I thought I was going to
bust a gut! Andi Allen and her cast have in their hands one
of the funniest productions that I seen this season. I strongly
suggest you bring some Tylenol and maybe wear some Depends to
this production. Ladies and Gentlemen, the race in all the play
categories for the 2002 "THE COLUMN" Theater Awards just got
even tougher and tighter! |
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| Elaine Liner,
The Dallas Observer |
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As one of the newer companies
to be added to the Dallas arts mix, Uptown Players has breathed
some gay life into the city's theater scene. And there seems
to be no better state than Texas in which to stage Del Shores'
festival of craziness, Sordid Lives.
Uptown Players puts forth a nice effort
with its production. Standouts include Angela Wilson as the
loud, foul mouthed, fast-talking LaVonda. Ted Wold also has
some shining moments as institutionalized Tammy Wynette impersonator
Brother Boy. The show has a quaint trailer-trash scene design
and delivers some great belly laughs.
Small-town life gets a brutal but hilarious going-over in 'Sordid
Lives'. Sordid Lives is what it is: high-energy low art with
a Texas twang. And the 11 actors in the Uptown Players company
wring the living daylights out of every line. In the second
act, which revolves around Brother Boy's "de-homosexualization
therapy" up at the mental institution, it gets too silly. Only
the fine performance of Ted Wold as Brother Boy – a linebacker
dressed in a delicate chartreuse peignoir and fluffy mules –
keeps this section from plunging too far into idiotic slapstick.
The rest of the company takes hold of the material and chews
it like a $2 steak. But dang, they're funny when they nail it.
Angela Wilson displays sharp comic timing as the explosive,
beady-eyed LaVonda, whose partner in most scenes is the downtrodden
Noleta, played on opening night by director Andi Allen after
the sudden preshow illness of the actress cast in the role.
Allyn Carrell is a stitch as the nicotine-deprived Sissy. Steve
Lovett gets plenty of mileage out of two roles: dumb-as-dirt
barfly Odell; and toupee-topped Reverend Barnes. |
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| Arnold Wayne
Jones, The Dallas Voice |
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During the Uptown Players’ production
of Sordid Lives you are actively aware that it panders mercilessly,
and fuels laughter like that mischievous uncle who tickled you
relentlessly against your will. It forces chuckles out of you
with its shameless vulgarity.
But you do laugh...and director Allen milks Brother Boy’s
beefy size by putting him in sheer camisole for one scene,
then dressing him like Anita in a bad touring company of West
Side Story in the next. If the play is sketchy and calculatedly
shocking, it is also hugely entertaining and well-acted by
much of the cast — most of whom do not know the meaning of
the word restraint. The most accomplished performer is Wilson
as LaVonda, who spills out of her denim dress and red-fringe
cowgirl jacket as she saunters seductively around the stage.
And while most of the men’s parts are underwritten, there
as vehicles for Shores to humiliate, Wold’s flittery, breathless
performance as Brother Boy adds a sense of balance to the
cast.
If you are looking for cheap fun, though, there’s no better
ticket in town. |
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