A SAMUEL FRENCH, INC. TITLE

My Deah

Full-Length Play, Comedy  /  6w, 2m

John Epperson

Winner! New York Times Critics Pick

"Classics scholars could learn a thing or two from Mr. Epperson's bawdy parody. Take that, Euripides." - The New York Times (Critic's pick)
"John Epperson, better known as the drag star Lypsinka, applies his custom blend of mascara and venom to Euripides in this frolicsome adaptation of Medea." - The New Yorker

My Deah

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  • Cast Size
    Cast Size
    6w, 2m
  • SubGenre
    Subgenre
    Parody / Spoof
Accolades
Accolades
  • Winner! New York Times Critics Pick

Details

Summary
In this outlandish re-working of Euripides' Medea, Gator Hedgepeth, a former Mississippi football star, plans to abandon his wife My Deah — an ex-beauty queen from Louisiana — and marry Simplicity Bullard, the daughter of the corrupt Mississippi governor. My Deah's bridge-playing buddies show up to play their weekly card game. Instead they get the domestic scoop from the touchy housekeeper Lillie V., and the physical education tutor of My Deah's sons, closeted homosexual Coach McCallister. My Deah confronts her card-dealing friends as well as the Governor, and she lays her bloody plans. Her vengefulness leads to the murders of trashy Simplicity and her father, and ultimately to the deaths of her own senseless sons, Skipper and Scooter. Deus ex machina, faux-Greekstyle, enables My Deah to attempt getaway to anonymity in wild, inebriated, immediately pre- Hurricane Katrina New Orleans. She hits the road, leaving Gator behind to live with the tragedy wrought by My Deah.
History
Opened Off-Broadway on October 24, 2006 at the Abingdon Theatre Company.
Cast Attributes
Keywords
Performing Groups

MY DEAH HEPGEPETH - 40s; an angry housewife.
GATOR HEPGEPETH - Early 40s; My Deah's handsome, fit husband.
MIGNON MULLEN - My Deah's bridge-playing crony (must be played by a male actor in female clothing).
LILLIE V. - My Deah's slatternly, irascible housekepper (played by the same actor plauong My Deah).
MYRNA LOY SEABROOK and BROOKSIE JONES - Two more bridge partners. Myrna is attractive, mannish, late 30s. Brooksie is a repressed but gossipy church lady. (These actors also appear ay SKIPPER and SCOOTER.)
SKIPPER and SCOOTER - 15 and 14 respectively. My Deah's and Gator's attractive, althetic sons.
COACH - Skipper and Scooter's tutor and football trainer; handsome and fit.
GOVERNOR W.J. BULLARD OF MISSISSIPPI - 60; corrupt. (Also plays Rufus Lacy.)
SIMPLICITY BULLARD - 20; governor's trashy, party-girl daughter.
RUFUS LACY - 60; owner of the New Orleans Times newspaper; commpassionate, benign.

A female with "consierable gravitas" may play the roles of GOVERNOR and RUFUS. Men in drag must play the roles of SKIPPER/BROOKSIE, SCOOTER/MYRNA LOY, and MIGNON MULLEN.

  • Time Period Contemporary
  • Features Contemporary Costumes / Street Clothes
  • Additional Features Drag Performance
  • Cautions
    • Mild Adult Themes

Media

"Classics scholars could learn a thing or two from Mr. Epperson's bawdy parody. Take that, Euripides." - The New York Times (Critic's pick)

"John Epperson, better known as the drag star Lypsinka, applies his custom blend of mascara and venom to Euripides in this frolicsome adaptation of Medea." - The New Yorker

Music

  • Musical Style N/A (Not a musical)
  • Vocal DemandsN/A (Not a musical)
  • Chorus Size N/A (Not a musical)

Licensing & Materials

  • Minimum Fee: $120 per performance

Scripts

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Authors

Author

John Epperson

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