‘OKRA’ being served up hot at BAYOU Playhouse

Hurricane Katrina stopped its run in New Orleans, so director Perry Martin is bringing Lafourche Parish native Anne Galjour’s comedy “OKRA” to his newly opened BAYOU Playhouse in Lockport (101 Main St.) throughout this month.

Although first staged in San Francisco in 2004, “OKRA” is about a dominating Cajun mother (Lois Duet) and her two daughters (Jana Cheramie and Michelle Becnel). The comedy revolves around the daughters’ attempts to cope with their video-poker-addicted, pill-loving mother. Not surprisingly, food plays a central role in the goings-on.

A visiting French cousin (Daniel Ruiz) and a neighboring Creole fisherman (Tory Andrus) add to the comedy.

Martin said the BAYOU Playhouse production of “OKRA” is the first one to have a mostly-Cajun cast.

The play had successful runs at the Southern Rep Theater and True Brew Playhouse in New Orleans before being interrupted by Katrina.

“OKRA” won the 2004 Bay Area Theatre Critic’s Circle Award for Best Original Script and the New Orleans Vie La Vie Marquee Theatre Award for Best Comedy.

Galjour teaches in the Creative Writing Department at San Francisco State University.

“OKRA” opens on Friday, Dec. 12 and runs weekends through Sunday, Feb. 1. Show times are at 7:30 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays and 2:30 p.m. on Sundays. Tickets cost $23, students and seniors $21.50.

Call 1-888-99-BAYOU (22968) for reservations.