- Conversation started April 11, 2010
- Heather Hamby
Trials & Tribulations
Hi Cheryl,I wanted to apologize for not speaking to you last night at the show. Honestly, I didn't know what to say to you that hadn't already been said and I needed time to process my feelings about it.I was so enthralled by your performance. It was honest, elegant, simple and graceful. I truly admire your talent and I hope you are as proud as you deserve to be of this show and what you are presenting.I worked for two years in a domestic violence shelter right after college and I left because I couldn't bear to see so many stories like Willadean's played out in front of me each day. It wasn't until years later that I realized it is because such sad stories take place behind closed doors and not in front of us each and every day that they can still exist.Thanks for telling her story so beautifully.Heather - April 20, 2010
- Cheryl Ann Roberts
Heather, I hope you will accept my apology for the delay in my response.I received your message via texts just as I was headed to the theatre. It was all I could do to keep from crying. It had been a taxing tech week and I was emotionally on edge going into that Sunday matinee. Your beautiful message threatened to push me over, so I quickly tucked it away.I did break down after Sunday's performance, and I tried to stay away from all things relating to Willadean for the 3 days we had off. Heading into the second weekend I knew would be tough. As Mikey and I settled into our roles we both got caught up in the moments; emotions became more raw and the "beatings" more brutal. (Danya and I both gave him as much as we got!) I took yesterday off, to decompress, but am still feeling the ghost of Willadean and still hearing the songs of the Blues Singer.But enough about that.....Thank you, Heather, for the above message. I'm so very honored by your comments. Your words mean more to me than I can possibly tell you. I stressed myself so much over my desire to do the role justice. I so appreciate you letting me know that I did.- Cheryl Ann
Showing posts with label trailer trash housewife. Show all posts
Showing posts with label trailer trash housewife. Show all posts
Tuesday, April 20, 2010
Monday, April 19, 2010
Love and Support
Mallorie, Mikey, Andy, Ken, Mimi, Jamie, Bill and Kathy, Chris, Beth F., Allan and Barbara, Norman, Miriam, Dad, April, Myla, Cathy, Stephen, Angela, Heather, Christina, Dillon and Karen, Beth R., Amy, Mom, Travis and Trina, David and Betsey, Allan, Don and Gina, Brian and Quiana, Michael, Gwen, Michele, Charlene, Natasha, Becki, Joe, Fran and Mary Ann, Hardy, Nanette and Craig...
thank you so very much for your encouragement, your faith, your hugs and your tears, your praise, and especially all your love and support during The Trials and Tribulations of a Trailer Trash Housewife. I could not have brought Willadean to such life without each of you sharing in her journey.
thank you so very much for your encouragement, your faith, your hugs and your tears, your praise, and especially all your love and support during The Trials and Tribulations of a Trailer Trash Housewife. I could not have brought Willadean to such life without each of you sharing in her journey.
Sunday, April 11, 2010
The Journal Review
poignant: Play reflects dark side
By Mary Martin Niepold
SPECIAL TO THE JOURNAL
Del Shores is known for his plays that use humor to expose small towns in Texas and the stereotypical characters who inhabit them -- hypocritical Christians, hard-drinking locals and people who wear prejudice like badges of honor.
His Trials and Tribulations of a Trailer Trash Housewife, which opened Friday night at Theatre Alliance, targets something more demonic: domestic violence.
As funny as some of the lines can be -- give a boozy barmaid an opportunity to trash her own string of five husbands, and you'll get funny wisecracks -- in this play, the tone is darker. Shores places violence at the center of the action.
Willadean Winkler takes beatings from her alcoholic, rageaholic husband, and Shores' dedication of his play says, "To all the ‘Willadeans,' may you find the light."
This is a powerful play, and it isn't for young people under 18. Nor is it for anyone who doesn't want to see and hear violence.
But beatings are the reason that Willadean struggles to find her own identity. "I will not shrivel up and die," she keeps telling herself.
She is alone against her husband -- her teenage daughter died in a car wreck, and her gay, teenage son was kicked out of the house by his father.
Fortunately for Willadean, the other side of violence is liberation, and we see freedom slowly evolve, thanks to the sensitive portrayal of Willadean by Cheryl Ann Roberts.
It is 2005 in Mesquite, Texas, where we also witness strong friendships, like the one Willadean has with her black neighbor, La Sonia, played to the bone by Jae Campbell. Adrienne Smith appears as a blues singer who threads songs through the scenes as a guardian angel-like figure for Willadean. Smith's voice is a beautiful and welcome counterpoint.
But Mikey Wiseman as J.D. Winkler, the abusive husband, is why this play, ultimately, works. His performance is brilliant, and as much as you don't want to see his rage, Wiseman makes his character evolve like a coiled snake who can mesmerize, then strike, then mesmerize again.
Jamie Lawson is the director, Kevin Mundy is an onstage pianist, and Andrew Lopina's set is a true-blood rendering of the inside of a mobile home and the seedy interior of the local bar.
Sales from popcorn and drinks benefit the Family Services Shelter for battered women. It is a fitting reminder of the story that Shores tells from a trailer park, which could be from anywhere.
Theatre Alliance presents The Trials and Tribulations of a Trailer Trash Housewife today and next Sunday at 2 p.m.; Thursday through Saturday at 8 p.m.; and Saturday at 4 p.m. at 1047 Northwest Blvd. Tickets are $16, $14 for seniors and students. Call 723-7777.
By Mary Martin Niepold
SPECIAL TO THE JOURNAL
Del Shores is known for his plays that use humor to expose small towns in Texas and the stereotypical characters who inhabit them -- hypocritical Christians, hard-drinking locals and people who wear prejudice like badges of honor.
His Trials and Tribulations of a Trailer Trash Housewife, which opened Friday night at Theatre Alliance, targets something more demonic: domestic violence.
As funny as some of the lines can be -- give a boozy barmaid an opportunity to trash her own string of five husbands, and you'll get funny wisecracks -- in this play, the tone is darker. Shores places violence at the center of the action.
Willadean Winkler takes beatings from her alcoholic, rageaholic husband, and Shores' dedication of his play says, "To all the ‘Willadeans,' may you find the light."
This is a powerful play, and it isn't for young people under 18. Nor is it for anyone who doesn't want to see and hear violence.
But beatings are the reason that Willadean struggles to find her own identity. "I will not shrivel up and die," she keeps telling herself.
She is alone against her husband -- her teenage daughter died in a car wreck, and her gay, teenage son was kicked out of the house by his father.
Fortunately for Willadean, the other side of violence is liberation, and we see freedom slowly evolve, thanks to the sensitive portrayal of Willadean by Cheryl Ann Roberts.
It is 2005 in Mesquite, Texas, where we also witness strong friendships, like the one Willadean has with her black neighbor, La Sonia, played to the bone by Jae Campbell. Adrienne Smith appears as a blues singer who threads songs through the scenes as a guardian angel-like figure for Willadean. Smith's voice is a beautiful and welcome counterpoint.
But Mikey Wiseman as J.D. Winkler, the abusive husband, is why this play, ultimately, works. His performance is brilliant, and as much as you don't want to see his rage, Wiseman makes his character evolve like a coiled snake who can mesmerize, then strike, then mesmerize again.
Jamie Lawson is the director, Kevin Mundy is an onstage pianist, and Andrew Lopina's set is a true-blood rendering of the inside of a mobile home and the seedy interior of the local bar.
Sales from popcorn and drinks benefit the Family Services Shelter for battered women. It is a fitting reminder of the story that Shores tells from a trailer park, which could be from anywhere.
Theatre Alliance presents The Trials and Tribulations of a Trailer Trash Housewife today and next Sunday at 2 p.m.; Thursday through Saturday at 8 p.m.; and Saturday at 4 p.m. at 1047 Northwest Blvd. Tickets are $16, $14 for seniors and students. Call 723-7777.
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