By Jessica Dillon
Theatreworks is debuting its newest play, “The Savannah Sipping Society,” a comedy about middle-aged Southern women who find themselves navigating unexpected hardships and life transitions.
Originally published in 2016, the play is directed by Devin Walsh, who said she believes the story will resonate with audiences in Henry County and surrounding rural communities.
Walsh said she is proud to stage a production centered on Southern women.
“It’s written by the trio of Jamie Wooten, Jessie Jones and Nicholas Hope,” she said.
The cast includes Casey Kern as Randa Covington, Tish Barber as Jinx Jenkins, Lidia Hairston as Dot Haigler and Valerie Bowling as Marlafaye Mosely.
According to Theatreworks, the story follows four Southern women at different crossroads in their lives who are looking to break free from the routines they feel stuck in. Brought together by chance and an impromptu happy hour, the women gradually form an unexpected friendship and support system.
Over time, the group begins meeting regularly and encouraging one another through personal setbacks, humor and new experiences, ultimately learning to rebuild confidence and embrace change.
“They write a lot of plays, and they write really great Southern characters, especially Southern women,” Walsh said. “A lot of people may have seen “The Dixie Swim Club” or the newly named “Delilah Slimquo.” And that’s the same group.”
Walsh said the characters each come from different circumstances that reflect real life struggles.
“We’ve got four middle-aged women at different crossroads in their lives. One’s widowed, one’s divorced after her husband started cheating on her, and another is a career-oriented woman who just got fired,” she said. “And then they meet this lovely girl named Jinx, who is a makeover person, and she decides she’s also going to be a life coach.”
Walsh said the women begin meeting under Jinx’s guidance, though the dynamic is far from smooth.
“They all get together with Jinx to be the life coach, and hilarity ensues because Jinx is probably more messed up than the rest of them,” she said. “They get into a lot of different situations like a forced Valentine’s Day date, an evening of salsa dancing and going to a Renaissance fair.”
At its core, Walsh said the play is about friendship and finding support during life’s unexpected changes.
“It’s the Golden Girls and Designing Women come to the stage,” she said.
“We’re very Southern, we’re very rural, and we’ve got a lot of women who are coming to crossroads in their lives,” Walsh said. “I, myself, am a single mom who’s 57. Tish recently got remarried. Lidia, who plays Dot, has been widowed. And Valerie is playing older than she is, but she’s fun doing it.”
Walsh said the story is meant to connect with anyone experiencing a major life shift.
“It’s just a matter of anybody who has a life-altering change that they don’t expect to be part of their future, and it becomes their future,” she said. “They’re going to resonate with the masses on that.”
Performances will be held at Theatreworks, 44 Franklin St., Martinsville, at 7 p.m. on April 23, April 24, April 25, May 1 and May 2, and at 2 p.m. on May 3. Tickets are $15.50 and may be purchased online or at the door while supplies last.
