Queens Theatre show can bring you ‘from laughter to tears’
BY TAMMY SCILEPPI
If you’re craving something
really good, that you
can sink your teeth into, then
how about a hefty serving of
“Chicken and Biscuits”?
You and yours will surely
enjoy this uniquely satisfying,
new family comedy by playwright,
composer and actor
Douglas Lyons (“Beautiful”),
running through March 22
at Queens Theatre. Opening
night was Friday, March 6.
Directed by Zhailon Levingston
(“Tina”), “Chicken
and Biscuits” has some surprises
in store for audiences,
as sassy sisters Baneatta,
played by Jennifer Fouche
(“Chicago”), and Beverly,
played by Ebony Marshall-
Oliver (“Ain’t No Mo”), reluctantly
join forces when it’s
time to bury their beloved
papa, Bernard Jenkins. Everyone
pretty much behaves
at the funeral — where the
family honors him by eating
his favorite dinner of chicken
and biscuits — until a huge
secret is revealed. Can you
guess what it is?
“The play itself is also a
meal. There’s shade, love,
healing and comedy all mixed
into in one,” said Lyons, who
lives in Astoria.
“This play was my own
personal experiment of clashing
high humor with deep
conflict. At the blink of an
eye the audience may go from
laughter to tears,” he added,
noting that the family you
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see on stage, “will hopefully
remind you of your own, and
audiences will hopefully want
to call their parents, aunties
and kids afterwards.”
The fabulous group of comedic
actors, who have appeared
on stages and screens
all around the country — from
the “Chicago” National Tour
to The Public Theater and to
Netflix’s “When They See Us”
— also includes Robert G. Mc-
Kay (“When They See Us”) as
Reginald, Alana Raquel Bowers
(“What to Send Up When It
Goes Down”) as Simone, Josh
Adam Ramos (“Brideshead
Obliterated”) as Kenny, Brendan
Ellis (“Stupid F**king
Bird”) as Logan, Ashanti
J’Aria (“Disaster”) as Brianna,
and Aigner Mizzelle (“Betty &
The Belrays”) as La’trice.
Set in Lyons’ hometown
of New Haven, Connecticut,
“Chicken and Biscuits” was
inspired by a family secret,
according to the playwright,
who said he grew up eating
that dinner at least once or
twice a month after church.
“For me, the title symbolizes
traditions in black culture.
And the play is a VIP
pass into black family,” Lyons
explained. “It’s mess, it’s love,
it’s comedy and it’s beauty. I
belly-laugh at least once in every
scene.”
The play is also quite
unique because “you rarely
see this many black women
leading a piece,” according to
its creator.
Lyons noted that the play’s
message is “a reminder to love
before it’s too late.” And one
of his favorite quotes from
“Chicken and Biscuits” is,
“Family is family. It don’t fade
away till it’s gone.”
The show is recommended
for everyone ages 10 and up.
For tickets, showtimes
and more information, visit
queenstheatre.com.
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