RSS FeedFor immediate release
'Dearly Departed' offers humorous, poignant look at family relationships
Enjoy a comedy that’s both funny and outrageous and at the same time poignant and touching when Jackson Community College presents the comedy “Dearly Departed,” Oct. 23-25 and Oct. 31-Nov. 2 in the Potter Center.
“Dearly Departed,” written by David Bottrell and Jessie Jones, tells the story of the Turpin family. In the Baptist backwoods of the Bible Belt, the beleaguered Turpin family proves that living and dying in the South are seldom easy and at times even downright hilarious. Despite their best efforts to pull themselves together for their father’s funeral, the family’s other problems keep overshadowing the solemn occasion: Firstborn Ray-Bud is horrified and outraged at the mounting costs of the funeral; 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; and the invasion of their Bible-thumping', hymn hollering’ spinster aunt, Margurite. As the situation races to its riotous and chaotic conclusion, the family manages to pull themselves together and help each other through their final hours of need, and finally, the funeral.
The play will be directed by Associate Professor Gary Wetzel-Righettini. Cast members include:
Raynelle, Ruth Yinger
Bud/Ray Bud, Jake Anderson
Lucille, Kayla Conrad
Junior, Jeremy Moore
Suzanne, Tabitha Zeoli
Margurite, Amanda Marzano
Royce, Joe Kemler
Delightful/Nadine, Heather Parish
Reverend Hooker/Norval, Jared Moore
Juanita, Erica Davis
Veda, Sandy DiCesare
Merline, Ashley Petrakovitz
The Joy of Life Singers: Juanita, Merline, Nadine, Margurite
“Dearly Departed” will be presented at 8 p.m. Oct. 24-25 and Oct. 31-Nov. 1, with 3 p.m. matinees on Oct. 26 and Nov. 2, in the Ruth Day Theatre, Potter Center. Tickets are $10 for adults and $8 for students and senior citizens. A special student preview will be presented at 8 p.m. Oct. 23, tickets will be $5.
