Take a Peak at the 'Sordid Lives' of Others

 (BCP) presents Sordid Lives, a “black comedy about white trash” by playwright Del Shores which opened on May 7 and runs through June 5. The winner of 14 DramaLogue awards, including Best Production, Sordid Lives is a comedic twist on a story of unconditional love, acceptance and “coming out” in a Texas family as they all arrive for the matriarch’s funeral.

Under the direction of Carol Fisher-Gertner of Teaneck, Sordid Lives will be performed at the Little Firehouse Theatre in Oradell with shows at 8 pm on Fridays and Saturdays and 2 pm on Sundays (no performances Memorial Day weekend).  

The play, which was also turned into a cult movie starring Delta Burke and Beau Bridges and eventually a TV series on the Logo Network, was Shores’ own coming-out manifesto featuring outlandish Southern Fried comedy amidst true human tragedy. 

His well meaning cast of characters, who in the end are simply looking for happiness, includes:  Ty, who is working with his 27^th therapist in three years; Ty’s mother, Latrelle, who is wound way too tight; her trash-talking sex-flaunting sister LaVonda; Bitsy Mae Harling, a singer at the local bar; Ty’s uncle Brother Boy, a cross-dressing country western singing homosexual; G.W., a cheating heart whose wounded wife, Noleta, turns “Thelma & Louise” on him; G.W.’s friends (Wardell and Odell); Brother Boy’s oversexed therapist Dr. Eve; and Ty’s Great Aunt Sissy, who picked the wrong day to give up smoking.

The play discusses all the unmentionables: sex, infidelity, homosexuality, and of course, “what will the neighbors think”.  But through it all, Sordid Lives provides a bellyful of laughs with broad, outrageous humor and a few tears backed by a strong message of hope and understanding.

Sordid Lives is directed by Carol Fisher-Gertner of Teaneck who states, “I am so excited to be working on this show. The first time I read it I laughed the entire time. It is especially fun for me because I am from that part of the country. These characters at times really hit home.”

Fisher-Gertner is both a BCP performer and Director. Her directing credits include Sister Mary Ignatius Explains It All for You (at BCP); You’re a Good Man Charlie Brown (Player’s Guild of Leonia); and I Never Saw Another Butterfly (The Player’s Theatre Company). On stage at BCP, she was seen as Nurse Ratchet (One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest), Sister Aloysius (Doubt), and Stella (Follies). 

“I have been blessed with a wonderfully talented cast that I am sure will provide an evening of laughs for all,” added Fisher-Gertner.

Keith Guthrie, who plays Ty, is from Norwood. Sissy is played by Rachel Gordon of Paramus. Latrelle is played by Cheryl Woertz of Alpine, and LaVonda by Meg Renton of Ringwood. Bitsy May is portrayed by Paula O’Brien of Park Ridge. Joe Di Bartolo of Wanaque takes on the role of G.W. Nethercott, with Helen Boyadjian of Saddle River as his wife, Noleta.

Will Nolan of Bogota plays Brother Boy, alongside sex therapist Dr. Eve, played by Sharon Podsada of Emerson. The cast is rounded out with Jonathan Deck of Norwood as Wardell and Chris Milone of Cliffside Park as Odell and Janica Carpenter of Old Tappan as Juanita Bartlett.

This production contains adult situations and language. Not appropriate for children.

TICKET AND SCHEDULE INFORMATION

• Tickets can be purchased online at www.bcplayers.org, by calling 201-261-4200, or by visiting the box office at 298 Kinderkamack Road in Oradell during regular box office hours.
• Tickets for Sordid Lives are $19 for Friday and Saturday performances and $16 for Sunday matinee performance. Visa, Master Card, and American Express are accepted.
• Those interested in Group Sales of 20 or more tickets can call (201) 262-0515.
• As it has for the past few seasons, BCP will continue to offer a “Questions & Artists” (Q&A) discussion following select performances.  The Sordid Lives Q&A will kick off immediately following the Friday, May 13 performance.  Admission is included in the cost of the ticket.
• Student Rush tickets are available for $5 for students age 25 and under with valid ID, 30 minutes prior to curtain. One ticket per ID. Cash only. Students can also guarantee their seats in advance either online or through the box office for the special student price of just $14.00.
• Parking is free at the Park Avenue municipal lot, across the street, one-half block north of the theater.