With everyone dealing with a global pandemic over the past year, Actors Community Theater of Seymour decided it’s time to lighten the mood.
Randa Covington, Dot Haigler, Marlafaye Mosley and Jinx Jenkins can do just that.
In "The Savannah Sipping Society," the four southern women, all needing to escape the sameness of their day-to-day routines, are drawn together by fate — and an impromptu happy hour — and decide it’s high time to reclaim the enthusiasm for life they’ve lost through the years.
"I just fell in love with this," Director Betty Baute said of the comedy’s script, which was written by Jamie Wooten, Jessie Jones and Nicholas Hope.
"This is what we call a Jones-Hope-Wooten southern fried comedy," she said. "I’ve done several of those shows before, but this one I really like because it’s about friendship, developing new friendships, encouragement, learning to be more assertive in your life and gaining confidence and learning how to do it all with a laugh and a smile."
The show will be presented at 7:30 p.m. July 16, 17, 23 and 24 at ACTS, 357 Tanger Blvd., Suite 208, at Shops at Seymour. Tickets are $12 and may be purchased online at seymouracts.ticketleap.com or at the door.
Ashley Browning plays the role of Randa, who has overworked and overachieved all of her life because she feels like she has to prove herself.
"She has always been put down all of her life, and she feels like nothing is ever enough," Browning said. "That’s kind of how I am, especially in my position in life right now. I’m a funeral director, deputy coroner, on the board here (at ACTS), cast director at Fear Fair, handle all of our costumes."
Browning said she often doesn’t have time to exist and doesn’t know what to do with herself when she has free time.
"The thing with Randa is she never quite gets out of that in the play," she said. "(The other women) try and they try. They get her a little bit. She makes time to have drinks every now and then, so that’s her character arc, that kind of ingrained in her now this overachiever thing. Her friends make it tolerable and bearable, so I really resonate with that because that’s what helps me get through."
Tiffany Lowe, who portrays Dot, said she relates to her character, too.
"She’s kind of a hot mess, which is how we are alike," Lowe said, smiling. "But I like that she is learning that she can have a life apart from her husband. When I met my own husband, I told him, ‘I’m not looking for anybody to complete me. I’m looking for somebody to complement me.’"
In the show, Dot learns her husband didn’t define her and she was already pretty awesome by herself, but now, she’s learning how to navigate life with a new issue.
"She has found these young, hip people to hang out with and living her best life," Lowe said.
That includes Marlafaye, portrayed by Elyse McGill.
"She is just a hoot," McGill said. "When Betty first said she was thinking about proposing this show, I read the script and I was like, ‘Ah, I want to be Marlafaye.’ She’s not shy in the least, and she will tell you exactly what she’s thinking, even if she probably shouldn’t, loud and proud."
While Marlafaye is a Texan and a divorcee and has anger management issues and McGill is none of those things, she still relates to the character.
"She’s a blast to play, and I like her character development from the beginning to the end where she’s real rough and gruff, and then even though she’s still rough and gruff, she has got a little more polish to her by the end of the show," McGill said.
Kat Baute just took over the role of Jinx after the person originally cast had to step down due to a conflict. Kat, however, had been working tech at rehearsals and was familiar with the script.
She, too, said she resonates with her character.
"Because I am the helper," Kat said. "No matter where I go or what I do, I try to make it my mission almost to just learn everything I can so that I can help other people. I will get you an answer. Even if it’s not the answer you were wanting or looking for, I will tell you ‘Here is an answer’ or ‘I don’t know, but let me find out for you’ or ‘I don’t know, but this person does.’ I like to be a fixer and help people like that."
Kat also relates with Jinx since she’s dealing with a family member with dementia. Her aunt, who she said has been a longtime role model, recently was diagnosed with the disorder.
"It’s a nice catharsis to get to act it out so that other people can sympathize with that struggle," Kat said. "There are other people out there that are dealing with it, and this might help them kind of connect a little bit."
"The Savannah Sipping Society" is ACTS’ first live show since August 2020 when actors performed "Love/Sick" while wearing masks. The first show this year, "Mrs. California," was only streamed online.
"I like doing comedies because right now, people have had enough drama in their lives, and it’s time to sit back and say, ‘Wow! We can still laugh — laugh with people, laugh at people,’" Betty said.
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What: Jamie Wooten, Jessie Jones and Nicholas Hope’s "The Savannah Sipping Society"
When: 7:30 p.m. July 16, 17, 23 and 24; doors open at 7 p.m.
Where: Actors Community Theater of Seymour, 357 Tanger Blvd., Suite 208, at Shops at Seymour
Tickets: $12; available online at seymouracts.ticketleap.com or at the door
Cast: Kat Baute, Ashley Browning, Mikéla Disque, Tiffany Lowe and Elyse McGill
Director: Betty Baute
Director’s assistant/stage manager: Hannah McGill
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