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The Review of Sordid LivesWhy do they fascinate us so? They live in a different universe. There is very little in common

between their world and ours. Littel Theater gives sound reason to explore the why’s and

wherefore’s with Del Shores’ delicious play Sordid Lives. Directed by Steven Volpe, the original

stage play premiered in Los Angeles on May 11, 1996 and ultimately won 14 Drama League

Awards. The play tells the story of a Texas family coming together in the aftermath of the

matriarch’s death. The eccentric characters include: a mother who is wound-too-tight and in-denial

over her gay son, a cheating heart who’s wooden legs accidentally aid in the death of his mistress,

the cheating heart’s wife who tries her hand at revenge therapy inspired by “Thelma & Louise”

along with her best friend. Led by comedic voices, their lives intertwine, giving each a new

perspective, honesty and meaning.

Staged in four chapters, the drama starts shortly after the incidental decease of the town

materfamilias Peggy Ingram. Poor Peggy breathed her last in a sordid motel where she tripped over

her lover's wooden legs and hit her head on the motel room sink. Her lover is a married man with

children. Sometimes it takes a death to bring a family together, but not necessarily Peggy's family.

Her tragic death brings out the best, the worst, and the most peculiar in her family and friends. As

they try to make funeral arrangements, long-suffering Aunt Sissy (played by Caitlyn Guerrette )

tries to keep the peace, but she has picked the wrong day to quit smoking .When Peggy's two

daughters, Latrelle (played by Meena Khwajazada) and LaVonda (played by Angie Possemato),

arrive, they feud over their mother's mink stole and whether they can bury the truth of their

mother's affair with G.W. Netercoot(played by Patrick Harbicht). Soon LaVonda joins G.W.'s

spurned spouse Noleta (played by Angeline Nassif) to seek revenge on her cheating husband.

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Fueled by liquor and inspired by the movie characters Thelma and Louise, they head to the local

honky-tonk where they use guns and face make-up to terrorize G.W., as well as several of the local

barflies. Above all, the Ingrams must come to terms with two men in their family: Latrelle's

estranged son Ty (played by Alex Garcia) who has become a soap opera star and is openly gay, and

"Brother Boy" Earl (played by Paul Nestor), a cross-dresser who has spent over twenty years in a

state hospital because of his obsession with dresses, wigs and Tammy Wynette. Once the audience

learns the truth of all of the characters' "sordid lives," the play culminates at Peggy's funeral with a

scene that is by turns poignant and hilarious.