Once again Barter Theater has produced a side-splitting comedy suitable for all ages.
This season the acting company is presenting a play by Jennifer Jarrett titled Divorce Southern Style.
Playing the lead role of Eleanor Bander is current company member, Alice White. Bander’s character is that of a middle-aged southern divorcee.
After 15 years of living as a wealthy single mother she discovers that she is running out of funds.
Her eccentric best friend teams up as her sidekick as she decides to pursue her ex-husband and father of her daughter Elizabeth.
Her logic in this idea is that she was wealthy and supported Mr. Bander, so now that he is wealthy he should have to support her.
The only problem with Eleanor’s idea is that she may actually get what she wants.
The story focuses on Eleanor’s pursuit of Bander as she tries to convince him that they were once happy and that she is still very desirable.
Included in the comedy are uproarious scenes involving an optometrist who is pursuing Eleanor and scene stealing performances by Evalyn Barron who plays Bander’s alcoholic best friend, Alma Lou, who is also a well-known novelist.
Some of the scenes involving these two characters are so hilarious that it appears that the actors themselves are almost unable to control their laughter.
Although the play is well worth the time and money to see, it ends on a much more serious note than may have initially been expected.
The underlying message seems to revolve around people’s tendencies to idealize situations, especially relationships.
That seems to be Eleanor’s problem in her pursuit of Bander. She idealizes her love for him and the true nature of their marriage.
Eleanor leaves the play a much stronger woman for having realized that she does not need a man to fix her problems.
This is a great play for many reasons. It depicts the various stereotypes of Southern culture within a hilarious plot line.
Aside from the humor, the play also has something important to say about a woman’s independence.
The play has to receive two thumbs up for plot, acting and entertainment value.

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