Southern Fried Chickie

Publish date: 2024-07-20

This generally lighthearted memory piece, which only occasionally dips into the dark side, could use a bit more substance if it is to have legs beyond this small-stage offering, but it does showcase McBrayer's captivating ability to lose herself within the personas of some truly memorable down-home folk.

Mississippi-born actress-writer Christy McBrayer certainly knows her roots. With minimal costume changes, she effectively calls forth the colorful characters of her youth growing up in Saltillo, which she refers to as the “trailer park suburb of Tupelo.” Staged with relaxed efficiency by Rita Sheffield, McBrayer does not dwell on any one characterization for long as she methodically moves from family to friends, punctuated by the adroit onstage musical offerings of guitarist-singer Jim Leslie and backup vocalist-fiddler Mike Kelly. This generally lighthearted memory piece, which only occasionally dips into the dark side, could use a bit more substance if it is to have legs beyond this small-stage offering, but it does showcase McBrayer’s captivating ability to lose herself within the personas of some truly memorable down-home folk.

Arriving by way of the audience, togged up as a hard-working, up-and-coming Hollywood glamour queen wannabe, McBrayer suddenly sheds her evening gown and unveils the plain-talking cutoff jeans/tank-topped hometown girl who “tied for homecoming queen” back in high school. Sauntering about Peter A. Lovello’s crowded but serviceable set, McBrayer re-creates a prodigal visit back to this Deep South town of 2000 to rekindle the relationships of her past. Along the way she encounters the love and pride of those who admire her courage to leave town, as well as the not-so-thinly veiled resentments and jealousies of those who wish her no good will at all.

McBrayer, backed by the duo of Leslie and Kelly, narrates herself into each character as she dons whatever apparel will aid in her transformation. It is an impressive array. Her widowed grandmother Mamaw desperately tries to busy herself with family cooking and gossip but is suffering from near-catatonic loneliness since the death of her husband. Chain-smoking Aunt Ann can’t wait to unload some juicy tidbits about McBrayer’s former boyfriend while cluelessly blowing cigarette smoke into her own baby’s face. The small-town tribulations of former high school pals Belinda, Carnie and Glenda Rose offer comical and poignant reinforcement to her decision to leave town.

The production is helped immensely by amiable musical contributions of singer-guitarist Leslie, whose offerings include “Amazing Grace,” the Eagles’ “Lyin’ Eyes” and the Hank Williams Jr. ditty, “A Family Tradition.”

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