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SORDID LIVES
'Lives' Goes On: Uptown Players Overcome Disaster
By Tom Sime / Excerpted from Dallas Morning News 6/15/2002 ©2002

It's a slam-dunk of a comedy, and even the somewhat troubled state of Uptown Players' production, which opened Friday at the Trinity River Arts Center, couldn't dampen the performers' glee over the gag-packed script. As opening-night crises go, however, Uptown had a doozy when actress Robyne Gulledge took ill and was hospitalized shortly before curtain – 15 minutes before, we were told. So director Andi Allen, on book but en pointe, filled in as betrayed and vengeful small-town Texas housewife Noleta Nethercott. Ms. Allen's tearful first scene – no doubt some of the tears were the real thing – set the stage for this wacky comedy. It must be tempting to play it all to the hilt, and most of the actors do. It works; the writing isn't exactly subtle. But Lisa Hassler hits a more powerful note by playing it straight. Her Latrelle's secret weapon is sincerity. Sordid Lives allows for both method and madness.

Subtler 'Sordid' is More Charming
By Perry Stewart / Excerpted from Ft. Worth Star-Telegram 6/16/2002 ©2002

In a new staging of Sordid Lives by Uptown Players, Ted Wold wrenches funny bones and pulls at heartstrings as Brother Boy. The play opens with preparations for the funeral of Peggy Ingram. Should Ty, her grandson, fly home for the funeral? This character's bittersweet monologues are delivered to his psychiatrist. They provide welcome relief from the general buffoonery and they underscore a deftly shaded portrait by Nye Cooper. Lisa Hassler maintains superb balance along a precarious tightrope as Ty's in-denial mother...Steve Lovett hits the mark in two roles: Odell and a preacher right out of Greater Tuna.
'Sordid Lives' by Del Shores, Uptown Players
By John Garcia / Excerpted from John Garcia's The Column/TalkinBroadway.com 6/22/2002 ©2002

This past season I have observed some truly outstanding work from some of our women directors within this artistic community. You can now add Andi Allen to this list! This actress/playwright/director has created one of the funniest comedies of the season, hands down!…For this production, Allen could not have cast this any better. Within this brilliant cast are some hilarious actors…Angela Wilson as "Lavonda";"Latrelle Williamson" is played to perfection by Lisa Hassler. Donald McDonald is a comical riot as the lover who lost his mistress… Steve Lovett has two roles to play with, thus creating two characters that earned their own basket full of laughs…Ted Wold portrays "Earl 'Brother Boy'Ingram…This role can be played over the top, but instead Wold goes for a more natural, organic, and honest approach to the role, resulting in an outright splendid performance. Also delivering excellent performances are Nye Cooper as "Ty Williamson" and Allyn Carrell as "Sissy Hickey". In this cast of brilliant actors, there was one comic powerhouse performance...Robyne Gulledge! Andi Allen and her cast have in their hands one of the funniest productions that I seen this season.

Lesser 'Tuna': Uptown Players gets down to some mean family bidness in 'Sordid Lives'
By Elaine Liner / Excerpted from the Dallas Observer 6/20/2002 ©2002 New Times, Inc.

Small-town life gets a brutal but hilarious going-over in 'Sordid Lives'. And the 11 actors in the Uptown Players company wring the living daylights out of every line. The fine performance of Ted Wold as Brother Boy keeps this from plunging too far into idiotic slapstick. The rest of the company takes hold of the material and chews it like a $2 steak. But dang, they're funny when they nail it. Angela Wilson displays sharp comic timing as the explosive, beady-eyed LaVonda, whose partner in most scenes is the downtrodden Noleta, played on opening night by director Andi Allen after the sudden preshow illness of the actress cast in the role. Allyn Carrell is a stitch as the nicotine-deprived Sissy. Steve Lovett gets plenty of mileage out of two roles: dumb-as-dirt barfly Odell and toupee-topped Reverend Barnes.

Cheap Fun with a Texas Accent: Sordid Lives' twangy, far-fetched plot bound together by gut-busting comedy
By Arnold Wayne Jones / Excerpted from the Dallas Voice 6/21/2002 ©2002

During the Uptown Players’ production of Sordid Lives you are actively aware that it panders mercilessly, and fuels laughter like that mischievous uncle who tickled you relentlessly against your will. If the play is sketchy and calculatedly shocking, it is also hugely entertaining and well-acted by much of the cast. The most accomplished performer is Wilson as LaVonda. And while most of the men’s parts are underwritten, Wold’s flittery, breathless performance as Brother Boy adds a sense of balance to the cast. If you are looking for cheap fun, though, there’s no better ticket in town.