肉肉传媒

KENNESAW, Ga. | Sep 10, 2024

Raucous, unpredictable comedy explores America鈥檚 obsession of self-destruction as entertainment

肉肉传媒鈥檚 Department of Theatre and Performance Studies (TPS) will present Robert O'Hara's Oct. 1-6 at the Onyx Theater. Hilarious and yet devastating, the play examines the themes of addiction, family dynamics, politics, and fame in a clever way. 

鈥淏补谤产别肠耻别鈥� centers around the O鈥橫allerys, a dysfunctional group of siblings who come together to stage an emergency intervention for their sister Barbara, whose drug habit has gotten out of hand. However, there are two O鈥橫allery families, one White and one Black. Each appear in different (yet similar) scenes that juxtapose to create a dialogue about race, family, politics, and the American obsession with realism television. 

鈥淲e tend to crave watching people in their demise鈥攕hows like 鈥楨uphoria,鈥� or 鈥極range is the New Black,鈥� for example. These are popular shows that end up becoming American classics,鈥� says director and guest artist , a TPS alumnus who works professionally in theatre, television, and film in Atlanta. The fully staged production, set in Lynchburg, Ohio, asks the audience to examine their own stereotypes and insecurities while watching the families go through their own turmoil of how to get their sisters to go to rehab. 

The intervention is not done with a professional, but rather, is inspired by the TV show of the same name. 鈥淭he play asks, 鈥榳hat is true, and what is not true?鈥� How often do we tell each other lies to keep face? There are some heavy themes, but it鈥檚 still hilarious,鈥� says Lockhart. 鈥淚t鈥檚 coated-on comedy sugar.鈥� 

鈥淎 lot of theatre that addresses tough issues is heavy and hard to watch, but 鈥楤arbecue鈥� is easy to watch. Damian is great at directing comedy; he understands wit and comic timing as well as the sharpness that comedy needs,鈥� says , TPS Artistic Director and Associate Professor. 

Lockhart adds that O鈥橦ara wants the actors 鈥渢o showcase that we are all screwed up in some way. Everyone, in a sense, needs their own intervention. We all have something that we deal with鈥攜et we still judge others鈥� for their flaws. The playwright asks the audience to examine their own stereotypes and insecurities, even while intently鈥攕ometimes gleefully鈥攚atching the turmoil of the O鈥橫allery families. 

To unpack all these different things within the play, the TPS dramaturgical team, led by Assistant Professor of Theatre and Resident Dramaturg Dr. , presented their research behind 鈥淏补谤产别肠耻别鈥� to the ten actors. During rehearsal, representatives of KSU鈥檚 Center for Young Adult Addiction and Recovery shared information on addiction, intervention, and recovery. 

鈥淎t TPS, students are encouraged to be scholar artists, so the actors look at work from the inside out. They bring their own perspectives, but also have tough conversations with each other,鈥� says Lockhart. He hopes it will help the actors understand what the audiences may experience. 

Morgan believes there may be some humanity found at the core of all these things. 鈥淲ith the [country鈥檚] divisiveness and approaching election, it鈥檚 so important to find common ground with each other, especially in our struggles. The scenes [in the play] are divided by race, but the two families have a lot in common in their struggles,鈥� she says. 

鈥淣o one wants to feel terrible, so we laugh. We use humor to digest tough things, to get through the hard times. Sometimes, we laugh to keep from crying,鈥� adds Lockhart. 

鈥淏补谤产别肠耻别鈥� runs Oct. 1-6 at the Onyx Theater on the 肉肉传媒 campus; tickets are available or by calling 470-578-6650. Learn more about the Department of Theatre and Performance Studies. 

Watch the and check out the "Barbecue" costume sketches by Nicole Clockel, below: 

--Kathie Beckett