'Sordid Lives’ Opens at Southampton Cultural Center

“Sordid Lives,” a black comedy by the Texas-born writer, director, and producer Del Shores, will open this evening at 7:30 at the Southampton Cultural Center and run through Jan. 31. The play premiered in Los Angeles in 1996 and won 14 Drama-Logue Awards.

The sordid lives of the title belong to three generations of a colorful family from a small Texas town who gather for the funeral of their elderly matriarch, who died during a tryst in a seedy motel room with her much younger, married neighbor. As preparations ensue, comic, sad, and shabby truths about the dysfunctional family emerge. 

According to Michael Disher, who will direct the play with Joan Lyons, “Sometimes you just feel compelled to play a theatrical wild card, a piece with little social relevance but a ton of laughs. And could that be such a bad thing in January?”

Ms. Lyons agreed. “Each new season, behind the scenes, we agonize over which shows to choose that span theatrical genres to appeal to differing audiences. . . . I think the real message to be learned from this production is that sometimes you don’t need to push the deeper meaning of the script or send any message at all, just to let your audience have fun.”

“Sordid Lives” was not only a stage play but also a feature film and a television series featuring Delta Burke, Beau Bridges, and Olivia Newton-John. 

The cast of the Center Stage production includes Tom Gregory, Edward Kassar, John Leonard, Deborah Marshall, Joseph Marshall, JoAnna Mincarelli, Mary Sabo, Frances Sherman, Danielle Shuman, Kristin Whiting, Gerri Wilson, and Scott Wilson. Show times are Thursdays at 7:30 p.m., Fridays and Saturdays at 8, and Sunday afternoons at 2:30. Tickets, which can be purchased at the center’s website, are $22, $12 for students under 21 with identification.

The cultural center has also announced open auditions for “South Pacific: In Concert” on Jan. 24 and Jan. 25 at 6 p.m. in its Levitas Center for the Arts. Auditions will begin promptly; late arrivals will be seen at the discretion of the director, Mr. Disher. Readings will be from the script, and actors have been asked to prepare 32 bars of a musical theater standard.

Cast size is variable; various ages and vocal types are needed. The production is non-union and non-paying. More detailed information is available from [email protected].