The Turpin family proves that living and dying in the South are seldom tidy and always hilarious in David Bottrell and Jessie Jones’ “Dearly Departed,” which will open at 7:30 p.m., Thursday, Jan. 18 in the Black Box Theatre, located in Elon’s Model Center for the Arts.
Chip Johnson, assistant professor of performing arts, makes his directing debut with the production, which features a cast of Elon students. “Dearly Departed” focuses on the Turpins’ effort to pull themselves together for the funeral of their father, Daddy Bud Turpin, despite their various other problems which overshadow the solemn occasion. They turn to their friends and neighbors, a group of misfits who barely manage to pull themselves together and help each other through their time of need.
Characters include the widow of the family patriarch, Lucille “Mama” (played by Heather Dearden); children Ray-Bud (played by Ryan Dunn); Junior (Kevin Flint); sister Marguerite (Bonny Cranford) and nephew Royce (Kevin Hoffmann).
Showtimes are 7:30 p.m., Thursday, Jan. 18 through Saturday, Jan. 20, with a 2 p.m. matinee on both Saturday and Sunday, Jan. 21. Performances are also scheduled for 7:30 p.m., Thursday, Feb. 1 through Saturday, Feb. 3, including a 2 p.m. matinee on Saturday.
Tickets are $10 or free with Elon identification. To make reservations for a performance, contact the Black Box ticket office at 278-5650.
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