Good Company’s biting family drama ‘Appropriate’ opens with high hopes
Good Company Theatre will premiere “Appropriate” April 29
Good Company Theatre will premiere “Appropriate” April 29
Good Company Theatre will premiere “Appropriate” April 29
OGDEN — Good Company Theatre will be the first Utah theater to premiere “Appropriate” opening at 8 p.m. April 29.
The show, written by Brandon Jacob-Jenkins, has won several acclaimed awards including an OBIE award for Best New American Play and an Out Critics Circle Nomination.
The just-over-two-hour play is about a family scattered across the United States, the Lafeyettes, who have left behind their Arkansas roots. Their father was the only thing holding them to their family home. The well-known judge and obsessive pack rat has just passed away and the families gather at the home to settle the estate.
They bicker and fight like always and find a scrapbook of ghastly images that turns everything about their forced reunion upside down.
The show runs until May 15 with 8 p.m. performances on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays, and 4 p.m. performances on Sundays.
“Family dramas are the bread and butter of the American theater tradition, and Branden Jacobs-Jenkins manipulates the genre with great style,” show director and Good Company Theatre co-director Alicia Washington said. “‘Appropriate’ is as funny as it is eye-opening.”
PREVIEW
• WHAT: “Appropriate”
• WHEN: 8 p.m. Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays; 4 p.m. Sundays April 29-May 15
• WHERE: Good Company Theatre, 260 Historic 25th St., Ogden
• ADMISSION: $17 at theater’s website or at the door
The show goes along with Good Company Theatre’s theme for the year: “High Hopes,” a season of exploring the American spirit. Washington was first introduced to Jacob-Jenkins work when her sister was researching plays for the season. “I read a few of his plays and was immediately drawn with Jacobs-Jenkins ease of writing when it comes to navigating some of America’s dark past with race,” Washington said.
She noted that the subject matter leaves no stone unturned. “‘Appropriate’ presents family situations that most people can relate to, mixed with topical issues involving race in America, which made the show a must for this season,” Washington added.
Washington said she noticed the cast of local actors came prepared, ready to work and ready to be part of a family. The cast is made up of a broad range of characters who play the siblings and their families. “Appropriate” features performances by David A. Boice (“The Flick,” “Race”), Liggera Edmonds-Allen (“Chicago,” “Beauty and The Beast”), Nicole Finney (“Under Construction,” “Breaking The Shakespeare Code”), Sahna Foley (“Rabbit Hole,” “Mr. Marmalade”), Seth Foster (“Nice Work If You Can Get It,” “Rent”), Paul Naylor (“The Waiters”), Matthew Rees (“The Music Man,” “The Addams Family”), and Teresa Sanderson (“Wit,” “August: Osage County”).
While rehearsing, the cast shared personal family stories that helped the actors get to know each other, which Washington said is “essential” when creating a show. “I lucked out with this cast. We walk into rehearsal creating our own family unit that pushes one another to tell the best version of the show possible,” she said.
Washington is sure audiences will love the show. “People should attend ‘Appropriate’ to ready see a comedy-fueled, poignant, charged, biting family drama that takes you on a familiar but new journey,” she said.
Tickets are $17 and can be purchased at theater’s website and at the door before each performance.
“Appropriate” contains pervasive and aggressive adult language and content. Discretion is advised.