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| Southern bridesmaids let it all hang out in local play |
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| Written by Jonathan Partridge / Patterson Irrigator / | |
| Wednesday, 23 January 2008 | |
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At a glance
Weddings can be stressful as it is. Throw in five Southern women with vastly different personalities as bridesmaids, give them ugly purple dresses and add drugs and alcohol.  At left, characters Meredith, played by Melissa Carrick (left) and Georgeanne, played by Amber Hill, have a frank chat. Photo by Jonathan Partridge The characters in the play bluntly vent their feelings, frustrations and personal transgressions, yet ultimately find a common bond, partly because of their distaste for the bride. Three cast members — Melissa Carrick, Misty Rangel and Amber Hill — were in Patterson Repertory Theatre’s production of “Night of the Living Dead,” and they say their roles this time around could not be more different. “We’re quite alive this time — and in the flesh,” Carrick said with a laugh. Patterson Repertory Theatre co-founder Tori Scoles said she saw the play a few years ago shortly after reading it. She noted that playwright Alan Ball also wrote the screenplay for the Academy Award-winning movie “American Beauty.” “From my understanding, he decided to write this because he went to the wedding from hell,” Scoles said. The director said she wondered at first if Patterson was ready for such a play, which contains frank dialogue about a range of topics, including sex, drugs and religion. However, she said she liked it because its characters are talking about “real” problems. “I love comedies that have a little message to them,” Scoles said. In addition to directing, Scoles is part of the cast, playing the part of the beautiful, cosmopolitan Trisha. That can be a challenge, she said, as she sometimes needs to take a step back to see what the other actors are doing. But being on stage also gives her insight as a director, she said.  Mindy, played by Sarah Mosby, gives her dress a twirl as Gerogeanne looks on. Photo by Jonathan Partridge Carrick describes her character, Meredith, as “every mother’s nightmare.” The wild child and younger sister of the bride hopes to ruin the wedding. She comes from a wealthy family, but has a troubled secret past. Carrick, 18, has performed in many of the theater group’s youth theater productions in the past, and Scoles said it took her a while to get used to hearing Carrick say “grown-up things.” “It’s a bit of a blusher, but it’s not disrespectful in any way,” Carrick said of the play. Meanwhile, Rangel plays the part of Frances, who she described as sweet, strongly religious and a bit naïve. Sarah Mosby plays the role of Mindy, a lesbian Southern belle, who is the groom’s sister and is upset that her brother has fallen for the self-centered bride. Elias Funez, the only man in the cast, plays the part of Trisha’s love interest, Tripp Davenport. The play marks the first time that all the cast members in one of the repertory theater’s adult productions are from Patterson, Scoles said. She said the play particularly should appeal to women and to anyone who has ever been in a wedding. Rangel said she thought audience members would identify with the characters in the production, and Hill said she hoped people would be entertained. Cast members said the play is geared toward adults, noting its strong language and adult themes. “(The audience) will be shocked, but in the end I think they’ll love it,” Rangel said. To reach Jonathan Partridge at the Irrigator, call 892-6187 or e-mail him at This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it
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