Meddling church committee chairwoman Ozella (Karina Davis), at right, is shocked to get a pie in the face from oldest child Harlene (Jennifer Hughes) in the chaos surrounding her father’s funeral. — The Holyoke Enterprise | Johnson Publications
Dorothy (Janel Wailes) fights to keep her house — and her sanity — after her husband’s death. — The Holyoke Enterprise | Johnson Publications
Emotions run high after Dewey Fry’s death, and his daughter Sammy Jo (Brooklyn Leonard), at left, has an intense conversation with husband Beecham (Mark Meusborn). — The Holyoke Enterprise | Johnson Publications
Players bring comedy, drama, Southern accents and even food fights back to the stage after pandemic
Funerals bring out the worst, best and funniest in people, and the Fryes were no exception after the death of their patriarch. Phillips County Players took their story to the stage in the form of a radio show Friday-Sunday, May 21-23, at the Holyoke First United Methodist Church fellowship hall.
“Southern Fried Funeral” was directed by Penny Dockins and produced by Lauri Gibbs. Cast members included Janel Wailes, Brooklyn Leonard, Jennifer Hughes, Maury Kramer, Aaron Cottam, Jerry Brandt, Mark Meusborn, Dockins, Dolly Smith, Ricardo Baker and Karina Davis. Joe Hall served as the musician and narrator, and Gibbs and Meusborn provided sound effects.