Bayou Playhouse reprises beloved Cajun play
May 2, 2012
May Theatre listings
May 2, 2012
Most weddings dote upon the bride, but in Alan Ball’s play, “Five Women Wearing the Same Dress,” the focus is pulled to the five reluctant, identically-dressed bridesmaids who hide in the sister of the bride’s upstairs bedroom as they await the flamboyant wedding reception below.
While they retouch their makeup and remove their tacky wedding shoes at this high-society estate in Knoxville, Tenn., the women realize that they have more in common with each other than they do with the bride.
Director Blake Petit says this play combines a unique amount of emotion and humor to form an engaging script.
“Throughout the course of the day, they learn that they all sort of hate the bride,” Petit says. “It’s about forging friendships in the face of adversity; in this case, the fact that they all wish they were somewhere else.”
Unseen characters play a large role in this play. There is Tracy, the bride, who has no real friends; Tommy Valentine, the bride’s former fiancé who has hit on or slept with all of her bridesmaids; Scott, the groom; and Georgeanne’s husband, who disrespects her in more ways than one.
Anna Davaine plays Meredith, Tracy’s rebellious, pot-smoking sister.
“I love my leather jacket and my joints,” Davaine says of her character.
Laura Pierce plays Trisha, who has lost her faith in men because she has been with a bunch who never measured up.
“I’m the slut,” Pierce says.
Katie DeHart, who plays Frances, interjects, “I prefer sexually popular.”
Pierce continues, “She has the bad reputation and she is apparently the bad influence on every one. She likes sex, but she doesn’t see anything wrong with that.”
Leah LeBeouf Hood plays Georgeanne, who is stuck in a loveless marriage.
“She’s part diva and part hot mess,” Hood says. “She wants to be glamorous but she’s in a marriage that makes her unhappy. The good thing is, in the end, she ends up being a stronger person.”
Melanie Bird plays Mindy, the groom’s outspoken, out-of-the-closet lesbian sister.
DeHart plays Frances, the cousin of the bride and maid of honor who is a sincere and devout Christian.
“I think she’s the only one who is genuinely happy to be there, and the only one who is excited to be a bridesmaid,” DeHart said. “She’s sweet, but she’s also very naïve and sheltered. She tries really hard to make sure that the others know that everything is going to be OK.”
As the girls continue to kick back Champagne, they begin to spill secrets of drugs, failed marriage, sexual encounters and more.
Joey Pierce plays Tripp Davenport, the usher and only male in the show.
“My character comes on with the intent of hooking up with Trisha’s character,” Joey says. “Throughout the play, Trisha kind of bashes men, and I try to get her to rethink her opinions. In the end, I think she falls for me.”
Petit says this show is different from the typical Thibodaux Playhouse production.
“It’s a way to branch out and try something new,” Petit says.
Petit stresses that this show is not suitable for children.
“You definitely need to get a babysitter for this one,” Petit says.
The play runs from May 11-20 at the Wetlands Acadian Cultural Center, 314 St. Mary St., Thibodaux. Tickets are $15 for adults and $10 for children. For more information, visit www.thibodauxplayhouse.com or call (985) 486-1896.
Katie DeHart (Frances), Laura Pierce (Trisha), Anna Davaine (Meredith) and Melanie Bird (Mindy) rehearse “Five Women Wearing the Same Dress,” at “The Temple,” in Thibodaux. The play opens May 11 at the Wetlands Acadian Cultural Theatre.
