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This Side of Crazy

  • Del Shores
  • Full Length Play, Dark Comedy, Comedy, Present Day
  • 4F
  • ISBN: SFNY-12393

Gospel music star Ditty Blaylock promises a reunion of The Blaylock Sisters, her three adult daughters who were once a national sensation as “little superstars for Jesus.” But the sisters have been estranged for over twenty-five years – and reconciliation seems impossible. Will the show go on?

More information

Description

  • Full Length Play
  • Dark Comedy, Comedy
  • 120 minutes

  • Time Period: Present Day
  • Target Audience: Adult

  • Performance Group:
  • Community Theatre, Professional Theatre
"Little superstars for Jesus,” the Blaylock Sisters have grown up... and they're kind of a mess. There’s Rachel, a Christian vlogger who still has sex with her comatose husband; Abigail, a chain-smoking virgin with anger management issues; and Bethany, a closeted atheist stripper. When their overbearing stage mother Ditty “volunteers” her daughters for a star-studded reunion performance, all hell breaks loose.

From the brilliant and hilarious mind of Del Shores comes a brand-new comedy about fame, family, and finding your way back home.
REVIEWS:

"Completely hysterical."

 Talkin' Broadway

"Five stars!"

 For All Events

"[Del Shores] shows us the fragile fac?ade of an entertainer's public face and the private mess of emotions that confront them when they're at home alone in front of a mirror."

 48 Hills

"We laughed. We cried. We laughed some more. Don't miss this amazing show, especially if you're a fan of Sordid Lives."

 Scott Carter, Goldstar

"Highly theatrical and highly natural... the story just rockets itself along, with revelations enough to surprise us for the entire running time."

 Talkin' Broadway

"The play is written in multiple scenes that fit together like a jigsaw puzzle with a stunning but satisfying ending. The seriousness of the plotline is softened with classic zingers that bring spontaneous laughter throughout... so well written it verifies Alfred North Whitehead’s concept of relative time."

 For All Events

"Each of the four ladies achieves some wonderful moments of pathos, passion, and welcome laughs throughout the show."

 San Francisco Examiner

Characters

  • Casting: 4F
  • Casting Attributes: All Female

  • DITTY BLAYLOCK - (LEAD) is around 70, but some “work” has perhaps kept her looking younger. She is a force to be reckoned with, once a stage mother, has no censor, is a narcissist, lives for the dramatic and spotlight and is the most prolific, celebrated songwriter in gospel music history. She also created The Blaylock Sisters, composed of her three young daughters – her “little superstars for Jesus”. A storm recently hit her life when Gospel Music Television offered her a special celebrating her 50 years in gospel music. Ditty has promised the reuniting of The Blaylock Sisters, and she is determined to make this happen, which will complete her life’s journey. Ditty lives with secrets, deceit and depression. She is Southern through and through, and her accent should be authentic (Kentucky). Actress should be able to sing and play piano (although piano playing can be staged to deceive the audience with a track). This role has equal elements of comedy and drama, heavy dialogue, lengthy monologues and actress should have the ability to memorize dialogue as written.

  • RACHEL BLAYLOCK HANKS - (LEAD) is the oldest sister. She’s forty-eight, pretty, conservative and well-preserved. She loves the color pink, which is reflected in her home and wardrobe. Rachel lives with her mother, Ditty Blaylock, in their well-maintained, extremely clean (thanks to Rachel), Kentucky mountain home. Rachel was always the prettiest and always got what she wanted – including her middle sister’s fiancé Jude, with whom she eloped nineteen years ago. Upon returning with the marriage news, Abigail, Jude’s fiancé, Rachel’s sister, strangled him, and he’s been in a coma since. Jude’s only real function since the strangulation is sex. Rachel loves sex, her only real joy in life, so there is no unplugging of the machines that keep Jude alive, much to her mother’s demise. Rachel also has a very popular YouTube show called “Good Christian Women” where she gives women spiritual advice. She has a complicated relationship with her mother, and they argue easily. Actress should be willing to simulate uncensored, vocal sex, exposing her breasts (or by wearing a revealing, sexy bra.) This behavior counters everything else in her life. Rachel controls her life with OCD behavior. Actress should be able to execute an authentic Southern accent. Heavy dialogue and long monologues must be memorized as written and actress should be able to sing well.

  • BETHANY BLAYLOCK - (SUPPORTING), the youngest sister is a very hot, hard-bodied forty-five. She has failed at marriage and love too many times to count, is now an atheist and a lesbian. She is always thinking, questioning, and most likely has untreated ADHD. After that unfortunate strangulation that destroyed The Blaylock Sisters, Bethany could not flee fast enough to Nashville to claim country music stardom. That did not work out as planned, so stripping was the option she chose to continue being a “star” and to make a living. Bethany has struggled financially for years, thinking her royalties dried up years ago. Not the case! Ditty took control and kept the royalties hidden in a trust until Bethany gets her life on track. That never has happened. Bethany returns home to perform, to reunite with her estranged sisters for Ditty’s special specifically for the money. Ditty has sent she and Abigail 5K unsigned checks, and the only way to claim the money is to return and perform. Scratch deeper, though, and Bethany also desperately needs her family back. Bethany was always the best singer, had the best body, but was the most insecure, in need of constant validation, which she never got from her mother. Her signature color is yellow. Actress should be able to execute an authentic Southern accent. Heavy dialogue and long monologues must be memorized as written and actress should be able to sing well.

  • ABIGAIL BLAYLOCK - (SUPPORTING) is the middle sister. She’s forty-six, but looks older and has lots of suppressed anger. Betrayed by her sister Rachel, who stole her fiancé, Abigail strangled the man who also betrayed her. In the cover-up of the century, Ditty told authorities that a Mexican field hand did the deed (for Jude’s pocket watch) and fled the country. Abigail agreed to be institutionalized and signed over guardianship of her life to her mother. Rachel agreed to keep this secret as long as Abigail is “locked up”. Bethany was sworn to secrecy. Abigail has not seen either sister since the crime was committed, nineteen years ago. She lives with regret daily, smokes non-stop, has learned to accept her plight, but understands she wasn’t the only person who caused this horrendous act. Coming home brings out anxiety, suppressed anger, old demons and confusion about her relationships with her mother and sisters. Her signature color is lavender, but she hasn’t seen a new outfit for years. Actress should be able to execute an authentic Southern accent. Heavy dialogue and long monologues must be memorized as written and actress should be able to sing well.

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    "Little superstars for Jesus,” the Blaylock Sisters have grown up... and they're kind of a mess. There’s Rachel, a Christian vlogger who still has sex with her comatose husband; Abigail, a chain-smoking virgin with anger management issues; and Bethany, a closeted atheist stripper. When their overbearing stage mother Ditty “volunteers” her daughters for a star-studded reunion performance, all hell breaks loose.

    From the brilliant and hilarious mind of Del Shores comes a brand-new comedy about fame, family, and finding your way back home.

    		$24.95

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