48 THE QUEENS COURIER • BUZZ • MARСH 12, 2020 FOR BREAKING NEWS VISIT WWW.QNS.COM
buzz
Get a heaping portion of ‘Chicken and Biscuits’ at Queens Theatre
BY TAMMY SCILEPPI
editorial@qns.com
@QNS
If you’re craving something really good,
that you can sink your teeth into, then
how about a heft y serving of “Chicken
and Biscuits”?
You and yours will surely enjoy this
uniquely satisfying, new family comedy
‘Steel Magnolias’ is rock solid at Theatre by the Bay
Crisp dialogue, sharp character interactions
and crystal clear personality development
create a rock-solid version of the
dramatic comedy “Steel Magnolias.”
Th e six-member cast at Th eatre by the
Bay combines subtle reactions with overwhelming
emotion in a charming and
thought provoking story of grief, loyalty
and especially hope.
On opening night, familiar community
theatre veterans perform at Truvy’s
Beauty Parlor in 1980s Louisiana. Th e set
includes real hair dryers and salon chairs.
Nili Resnick is excellent as fragile but fi ery
Shelby. Th ough rebellious, her unmistakable
need for familial support is heartwarming.
Her mother, M’Lynn, is played
with control and maturity by Rosemary
Kurtz. Her emotional explosion in the
fi nal scene is well handled by Clairee
(Annette Daiell).
Daiell, a seasoned local veteran of more
than 20 productions, displays a mischievous
sense of humor with a combination
of sensitivity and wit. Her best friend and
nemesis Ouiser is played by Carol Berger
Giorgio. Her charisma and larger-thanlife
reactions represent more than four
decades of onstage experience.
Liz Zimmermann as brassy, blond
Truvy anchors the production. She is
both a wise, wonderful hair stylist and
an informal town psychologist. Truvy is
the center of everything important in
her small southern town. Th e youngest
of this group of creative characters is
Samantha Kalinsky as Annelle. Her character
is sometimes timid, sometimes reckless
but always sincere.
Director Patrice Valenti manages her
third production for this troupe. Her
upbeat personality is evident in the performers’
optimism despite the storyline’s
unexpected hardships. A genuine aff ection
beyond the actors’ roles is evident as
the play progresses.
Unfolding in fi ctional Chinquapin
Parish, playwright Robert Harling’s production
is based on real events. In fact,
producers Barbara and Eli Koenig and
Helene Schwartz appreciate the deeper
message of “Steel Magnolias.” Brochures
explaining Type 1 and 2 Diabetes are distributed
as the audiences leaves the theater
. Well deserved applause to artistic director
Cathy Chimenti, the stage crew (Lila
and Steve Edelkind), set construction
(Chris and Tyler Zimmermann), lighting
and sound (Glenn Rivano, Jenifer
Badamo, G. Scott Design Inc & Meagan
Materazo). Bows to everyone behind the
scenes too numerous to acknowledge by
name.
For information on this and future productions
call 718-428-6363, click on www.
theatrebythebayny.com or “like” them on
Facebook.
Th eatre By Th e Bay is the community
theater group of Bay Terrace Garden
Jewish Center, located at 13-00 209th St.
As always, save me a seat on the aisle.
Courtesy Pazzagirl Photography
Annette Daiell, Liz Zimmermann and Nili Resnick star in “Steel Magnolias.”
by playwright, composer and actor
Douglas Lyons (“Beautiful”), running
through March 22 at Queens Th eatre.
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?
“Th e play itself is also a meal. Th ere’s
shade, love, healing and comedy all mixed
into in one,” said Lyons, who lives in
Astoria.
“Th is play was my own personal experiment
of clashing high humor with deep
confl ict. At the blink of an eye the audience
may go from laughter to tears,” he
added, noting that the family you see on
stage, “will hopefully remind you of your
own, and audiences will hopefully want to
call their parents, aunties and kids aft erwards.”
Th e fabulous group of comedic actors,
who have appeared on stages and screens
all around the country — from the
“Chicago” National Tour to Th e Public
Th eater and to Netfl ix’s “When Th ey See
Us” — also includes Robert G. McKay
(“When Th ey 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 &
Th e 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 aft er church.
“For me, the title symbolizes traditions
in black culture. And the play is a VIP
pass into black family,” Lyons explained.
“It’s messy, it’s love, it’s comedy and it’s
beauty. I belly-laugh at least once in every
scene.”
Th e 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.”
Th e show is recommended for everyone
ages 10 and up.
For tickets, showtimes and more information,
visit queenstheatre.com.
A VIEW FROM
THE CLIFF
BY CLIFF KASDEN
Courtesy of Queens Theatre
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