Messiah On The Frigidaire
by John Culbertson

Name: Messiah On The Frigidaire
Brand: John Culbertson
SKU: 9780573660375
Rating: 3.15 (16 reviews)

Messiah On The Frigidaire Book Cover — Messiah On The Frigidaire Cover

Highlights

Medium Cast

Female

Male

90 mins Present Day Exterior Set Contemporary Costumes/Street Clothes American Religious Christmas Comedy

Synopsis

"The small town of Elroy, South Carolina is thrust into the evangelical spotlight when what seems to be the image of Jesus appears on a refrigerator in a trailer park.

The discovery by Lou Ann Hightower, her husband Dwayne, and her best friend Betsy, sets into motion a frenzy of conflict, communion and good old fashioned commerce.

When the National Investigator turns the appearance into front-page headlines, their trailer park becomes a Mecca for miracle seekers, soul searchers and disciples with a decidedly political agenda.

At the urging of the towns business leaders, Betsy pretends to get messages from the appliance-based apparition, and the crowds multiply like loaves and fishes.

Through the ordeal, the three undergo an evolution in their relationships with each other, and they are forced to come to grips with their lowly status in the caste system of the rural south.

In a region where religion is as much a part of life as grits and cotton fields, God surely moves in mysterious ways."--Publisher's website.

Themes Idols and images Idols and images--South Carolina--Drama PS3603.U56 M4 2008

Press Reviews

"Steel Magnolias-esque in its use of meandering conversation, the show is punctuated by laugh-out-loud moments... Messiah on the Frigidaire grants a wholly satisfying theatrical experience."
— Centerstage Chicago City Guide

"Finding laughs in the characters foibles without mocking them, a refreshing change for a play set in a southern trailer park."
— Mount Vernon News, Ohio

"The litmus test for any drama, especially a comedy, is audience reaction. And on opening night of Frigidaire, the audience was laughing a lot, often quite mightily."
— The Metro Beat, Greenville, SC

"Isn't looking to make fun of hillbilly-style fake piety so much as accentuate the human comedy herein. That's an important difference"
— Chicago Tribune

"Many, many congratulations for such a great evening. Who would have thought that a play about the reflections of streetlights shining though trees, could have been so amusing and thought provoking?"
— Hertfordshire Mercury, Hertfordshire, England

Characters

Character	Gender	Age	Description
LOU ANN HIGHTOWER an attractive woman in her early to mid-thirties; Southern beauty, but no belle	female	—	an attractive woman in her early to mid-thirties; Southern beauty, but no belle
DWAYNE HIGHTOWER a man in his early to mid-30s; still handsome, but life has taken its toll	male	mid-30s	a man in his early to mid-30s; still handsome, but life has taken its toll
BETSY GRIDLEY an attractive woman in her early to mid-thirties; though her better days are behind her, she still enjoys flaunting her sexuality	female	—	an attractive woman in her early to mid-thirties; though her better days are behind her, she still enjoys flaunting her sexuality
REVEREND CECIL HODGES a man in his 50s; pious preacher at Elroy First Baptist Church	male	50s	a man in his 50s; pious preacher at Elroy First Baptist Church
LARRY WILLIAMSON a man in his late 30s; balding, cocky, and condescending City Councilman	male	30s	a man in his late 30s; balding, cocky, and condescending City Councilman
WOMAN mother in her late 30s to early 40s	female	30s	mother in her late 30s to early 40s
BOY blind nine-year-old	—	—	blind nine-year-old
STRANGER mysterious man in his late 40s or 50s	male	40s	mysterious man in his late 40s or 50s