‘In a Small Texas Town.’
From the moment Jacob Sams (Ty) begins to let us in on the ‘small Texas Town’ and all its craziness, you are immersed in a silly, well-paced production of Del Shore’s much beloved ‘Sordid Lives.’ The story, which revolves around an accidental death of the elderly family matriarch, is filled with characters you cannot help but love, no matter how messed up they are! One rule of thumb with ‘Sordid Lives’….if the cast is having fun, YOU are having fun! This cast was LOVING IT!
Jenna Gomes‘ (Bitsy Mae) guitar solos break-up the madness effortlessly. Faith Whitt’s (Sissy) character is instantly relatable. Rick Flynn‘s (G.W.) frustration is palpable. Diane Strohm‘s (Dr. Eve) outrageous behavior is hysterical. AND keep your eye on Becky Milligan Howard‘s Juanita….it’s stealth, but she’s a riot! The entire cast really needs a shout-out….of the ten audience members in our party, everyone had a favorite character!
The production, at the Beavercreek Community Theater, has it all. The lighting, the sound…the set…STELLAR!
I was lucky enough to interview the show’s director Doug Lloyd. It went something like this!
JS: So Doug…why ‘Sordid Lives?’
DL: I submitted “SORDID LIVES” because it’s a crazy funny show, with a large number of fun roles for actors to have fun with, but at the same time, has a message of acceptance and love, While the family seems to constantly be screaming at each other, they still love each other and are there for each other in time of need.
JS: And, for big ‘Sordid Lives’ fans, the connection to Brother Boy (brought to life on-screen by the late Leslie Jordan) is essential!
DL: Yes. It’s the kind of show I think we need right now, one that shows acceptance and does it with a sense of humor.
Brother Boy (Matthew Smith) and His Therapist! (Strohm)
Lloyd is right about this. With Drag Queen bans, and Anti-LGBTQ sentiment on the rise, this show handles it in stride….and with this cast, with a lot of heart!
JS: What would you say people can expect from this show?
DL: An evening of quality theatre, full of laughs. You may leave with your face a bit sore from smiling and laughing, but you will leave feeling good and knowing you had a great time.
I know my group of 10 did. We all chatted at intermission about how impressed we were (as we ate cookies and drank punch! Perfect!) The show was engaging…and we were anxious for the second act!
JS: I don’t know if people know about your theater experience. Would you mind sharing?
DL: Sure! I have been involved with theatre since I was in the first grade, close to sixty years ago. I have been involved with BCT for close to 25 years. I am president of BCT and have been on stage or in the director’s chair for countless productions at BCT and other theatre’s in the Dayton area, including Dayton Theatre Guild, Dayton Playhouse, and Town Hall Theatre. I have received numerous ‘Daytony’ Awards and was inducted into the Dayton Theatre Hall Of Fame in 2011. Besides theatre, I am retired from the City Of Beavercreek, am a potter that works out of and serves on the board at John Bryan Community Pottery in Yellow Springs. I also do stained glass, and am the proud poppa of three rescue dogs. One of which was recently onstage at BCT.
JS: You are BUSY, SIR! So much to be proud of. But what is it about directing that you enjoy?
Fun Cast!
DL: The next production at BCT is the musical “TWELFTH NIGHT” a modern twist of the Shakespeare comedy which opens June 16th.
