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Trials And Tribulations of a Trailer Trash Housewife, The

A feat of breathtaking audacity.

Critics Choice

More information

Description

  • Full Length Play
  • Dramatic Comedy
  • 120 minutes

  • Time Period: New Millennium/21st Century
  • Target Audience: Adult
  • Set Requirements: Unit Set/Multiple Settings
  • Cautions: Gun Shots, Intense Adult Themes

  • Performance Group:
  • Community Theatre, College Theatre / Student, Blackbox / Second Stage /Fringe Groups, Professional Theatre

  • Accolades:
  • Winner! More than 14 Los Angeles Theatre Awards including the Ovation Awards for Best Production and Best Playwright
Willi is the trailer trash housewife of the title, not necessarily of her own volition. Her abusive husband won’t let her get a job, one of her children is dead, and the other is verboten by her husband because he’s gay. Her best and only friend, a large black woman who lives next door, worries about her constantly, always concerned that Willi’s husband will end up killing her.

A new woman comes to live in the trailer park and ends up having an affair with Willi’s husband. When she finds out, Willi decides to get a job at the local Wal-Mart (a first step on the way to liberating herself from him). Her husband will have none of it, and quoting the bible about how a wife is supposed to obey her husband, threatens all three women with a gun, and then beats Willi to within an inch of her life. She recovers enough to finally shoot him, releasing her from the torment that she’d been living in for years.

A blues singer weaves songs into the action, commenting upon Willi’s predicament and urging her toward decisive action.
REVIEWS:

A feat of breathtaking audacity.' - Critics Choice,

Los Angeles Times

Shores manages to fully explore Willadean's horrific plight while infusing the work with such hilarity the audience is often reduced to tears and laughter within the same breath.

Daily Variety
Premiere Production: The Trials and Tribulations of a Trailer Trash Housewife was originally produced by Sharyn Lane for The Zephyr Theatre in Hollywood, California, March 8, 2003.

Characters

  • Casting: 1M, 3F
  • Casting Attributes: Role(s) for Black Actor(s)

  • BLUES SINGER - 30s, African-American. Sexy and beautiful with a powerful voice.

  • J.D. WINKLER - around 50. Once the handsome quarterback, now the failed, angry, abusive, adulterous, alcoholic husband.

  • WILLADEAN WINKLER - mid to late 40s. The trapped, weathered and abused housewife who has a beautiful heart and soul.

  • RAYLEEN HOBBS - late 30s. The much-married waitress with the great body, the hard, lived-in face who desperately needs acceptance.

  • LA SONIA ROBINSON - late 30s. African-American. Willadean's fleshy neighbor and best friend who speaks her mind and has little fear.

  • A pianist also appears onstage who accompanies the Blues Singer.

    • Available Material

    Name Price
    Trials And Tribulations of a Trailer Trash Housewife, The Script Order Now

    Willi is the trailer trash housewife of the title, not necessarily of her own volition. Her abusive husband won’t let her get a job, one of her children is dead, and the other is verboten by her husband because he’s gay. Her best and only friend, a large black woman who lives next door, worries about her constantly, always concerned that Willi’s husband will end up killing her. A new woman comes to live in the trailer park and ends up having an affair with Willi’s husband. When she finds out, Willi decides to get a job at the local Wal-Mart (a first step on the way to liberating herself from him). Her husband will have none of it, and quoting the bible about how a wife is supposed to obey her husband, threatens all three women with a gun, and then beats Willi to within an inch of her life. She recovers enough to finally shoot him, releasing her from the torment that she’d been living in for years. A blues singer weaves songs into the action, commenting upon Willi’s predicament and urging her toward decisive action.

    		$24.95

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