Dearly Departed

by David Bottrell and Jessie Jones

 

Directed by Sonia Smith

In the Baptist backwoods of the Bible Belt, the beleaguered Turpin family proves that living and dying in the South are seldom tidy and always hilarious. Despite their earnest efforts to pull themselves together for their father’s funeral, the Turpin’s other problems keep overshadowing the solemn occasion: Firstborn Ray-Bud drinks himself silly as the funeral bills mount; Junior, the younger son, is juggling financial ruin, a pack of no-neck monster kids, and a wife who suspects him of infidelity in the family car; their spinster sister, Delightful, copes with death as she does life, by devouring junk food; and all the neighbors add more than two cents. As the situation becomes fraught with mishap, Ray-Bud says to his long-suffering wife, “When I die, don’t tell nobody. Just bury me in the backyard and tell everybody I left you.” Amidst the chaos, the Turpins turn for comfort to their friends and neighbors, an eccentric community of misfits who just manage to pull together and help each other through their hours of need, and finally, the funeral.

Cast:

7+ Males
3+ Females

We can age up or down depending on the character.

BUD TURPIN – father

RAYNELLE – mother

RAY-BUD – oldest son

LUCILLE – Raybud’s wife

JUNIOR – second son

SUZANNE – Junior’s wife

MARGUERITE – Bud’s sister

ROYCE – Marguerite’s son

NORVAL – youngest son

REVEREND HOOKER –preacher

VEDA – elderly lady in town husband

NADINE – very young lady in town

CLYDE – Raybud’s boss

JUANITA – pretentious lady in town

THE JOY OF LIFE SINGERS

 

Rehearsals begin May 23 (dependant on casting) Generally Mon. – Thurs. 6pm-9pm
Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays possible for scene work and full cast rehearsals
Show dates: July 13 – 30, 2017 (Thursday–Sunday)

Director Info:
Sonia Smith
[email protected]

Scripts will be available now.

Scenes from the play will be read during the audition or you may bring a prepared monologue of your choice.

Call the box office for information. 706-632-9223