Theatre Raleigh’s production of Barbecue starts out simple enough. The stage is set for a barbecue day in the park – a few lawn chairs, some bottles of beer, and all the park staples we’ve come to know, like benches, grills, and picnic tables. Surrounded by trees, the setting is serene.

That doesn’t last long. 

From start to finish, Barbecue is pure, unfiltered, laugh-out-loud chaos. It is not until the last few minutes of the production that this brilliant script comes together, creatively connecting the puzzle pieces in a way that makes audiences gasp with realization. 

Directed by Aurelia Belfield, Barbecue tells the story of the O’Mallery siblings and the intervention they stage for their drug addicted sister Barbara after her drug use has gotten out of hand. The catch is that there are actually two sets of O’Mallery siblings – one black family and one white family. The production starts with the white family on stage and flips back and forth between the two casts, picking up where the other one leaves off, weaving a powerful story about race, bias, and family values. 

First up is James T, played by David Henderson (first) and Gerald Campbell (second). Loud, fed up, and full of colorful language, Henderson and Campbell are no-nonsense. As they take turns stomping and cursing around the stage, their snarky interjections add well-timed humor to what is really quite serious subject matter. 

Julie Oliver (first) and Hazel Edmond (second) take on the role of Lillie Anne, the sort of mother hen of the group. The intervention is her idea as she scurries around in her cropped white capris and little white tennis shoes. Initially less abrasive than the other siblings, Edmond finally gets her moment as she tells the others the importance of getting Barbara sober. As her speech grows in passion, her physical comedy and timing takes it just far enough to leave audiences laughing in their seats without cringing in secondhand embarrassment. 

Drunken sister Marie is played by Kelly Mizell (first) and Eden Sharp (second). Talking a mile a minute, Sharp has the audience in the palm of her hand as she flips her hair and clomps around the stage. In comparison, Mizell is a sleepy drunk, stumbling around in a drunken stupor. With some of the best lines in the show, both Mizell and Sharp bring a heavy dose of comedic prowess. 

Adlean, played by Ali Evarts (first) and Kyma Lassiter (second), brings a sort of not-my-problem attitude as she smokes cigarette after cigarette. Often bringing a dose of reality to the scene, Evarts and Lassiter bring their own kind of sass to the stage. 

It is not until Act II that audiences really get to see Barbara. Jenny Latimer (first) and Lakeisha Coffey (second) bring an extraordinary amount of emotional range to the role as audiences finally begin to get a glimpse into the clever twist from book writer Robert O’Hara. As they have a poignant discussion about race, they share a moment of vulnerability as they learn to respect the other. Coffey in particular demonstrates her acting chops as she effortlessly switches back and forth between this eccentric, over-the-top caricature and a pained, fragile woman.  

From the beginning, Barbecue takes a powerful swing at racial stereotypes. The white version of Barbara is portrayed as sympathetic – a poor girl who went down the wrong path. Her siblings are the definition of redneck white trash, cursing and drunkenly stumbling around in cutoffs and plaid. But as they sit around together and remind Barbara of the person she used to be, it is done tenderly (ish) and is full of sweet stories. 

In comparison, the black version of Barbara lives up to her nickname Zippity Boom. Her family’s stories are over the top and full of aggression. Her family is the same way – louder, drunker, and more drug-addicted than their white counterparts.

Together, each cast brings that special bond only siblings share. With hilarious back and forth banter, each sibling set brings a genuine and chaotic energy, allowing this production to hit heavy topics and still keep audiences entertained. 

Barbecue runs at Theatre Raleigh through October 29, 2023. Tickets can be purchased here. Production contains strong language and subject matter. Recommended for ages 16 and up. 

Feature photo courtesy of Theatre Raleigh