Dixie Rises Again This Time online With Cygnet’s “Dixie’s Happy Hour”
The latest online streaming production is offered by Cygnet Theatre’s offering of Kris Andersson’s wonderfully lovable character, Dixie Longate. Andersson’s extremely successful presentation of “Dixie’s Tupperware Party” off-Broadway brought rave reviews and a Drama Desk Award nomination for Outstanding Solo Performance. After this successful show he wrote and performed in “Never Wear a Tube Top While Riding a Mechanical Bull (and 16 other things I Learned While I was Drinking Last Thursday)”. The latest production, Dixie’s Happy Hour”, offered online through Cygnet Theatre will run until April 18th.
Andersson’s persona, Dixie Longate, is from Mobile, Alabama, and she has moved from her stay in Los Angeles, taking her home on wheels and her three children, Wynona, Dwayne and Absorbine, Jr., back to Mobile where she now presents a hilarious 1 1/12-hour performance detailing the 4 food groups of Tequila, Vodka, Rum and Gin along with a series of stories, tales, and personal thoughts about a plethora of topics. Dixie is the drag persona of Andersson who is a writer, comedian, and drag performer.
As Dixie says, she is simply looking for “Happy Hours”, those things that make us smile and trying to “find things that make you sparkle the most”. She begins by informing us that “drinking is not just a hobby, it’s more like a part time job”. Beginning with “day-drinking” and Pre-drink drinking” we will go on an energetic trip through the “Happy Hour Grand Tour”, first beginning with Tequila. We are reminded that tequila is a drink that can cause a bit of trouble. Each of the drinks she brings out will lead her into a series of stories from her life, especially stories involving her upbringing, her love of her mother and her mother’s stories, and her special relationship with her Me-Ma (grandmother). Her mother made up stories to tell Dixie about life and becoming the person her mother wanted her to become and how to be her true self. Dixie tells us, “Don’t miss the great things in front of you and look a little closer” as well as to “share your sparkle”. The stories surround her Me-Ma are funny and enlightening, especially those surround the prayer blanket she made and passed on to Dixie.
For each drink we are led through a detailed single drink description along with introducing each drink with spontaneous appropriate music and dance. The sparkle Dixie describes is beautifully described with the amazing “Bedazzler” tale and her purchase of 18 of the products from an info shopping experience. As the excitable Dixies weaves one story into another we will hear her thoughts on an array of topics from aliens from outer space, superheroes, country songs, and a very heart-warming tale of a tiara she received and the Wonder Woman costume she made.
“Dixie’s Happy Hour” is a feel good, funny, emotional one man (in drag) show that will make you want to see it again and again. Along the way you will learn a little about Tequila, Vodka, Rum and Gin, at least from Dixie’s point of view. The stories and tales come fast and furious and are filled with thoughts that will make you stop and say, “You know – she’s right”. One such thought is her description of the states that constitute the South, not including Florida because the state is “made up of people from New Jersey”.
“Dixie’s Happy Hour” was directed by Patrick Richwood. The play is listed with mature content. There will be 14 performances of the play, cost for viewing is $35.00 and can be purchased at www.cygnettheatre.com. For more information about Andersson’s performance’s, you can also go to www.DixieHappyHour.com or www.dixiestupperwareparty.com
