{"id":365700,"date":"2025-03-17T16:09:08","date_gmt":"2025-03-17T20:09:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/dctheaterarts.org\/?p=365700"},"modified":"2025-03-17T16:09:08","modified_gmt":"2025-03-17T20:09:08","slug":"laughter-to-warm-your-soul-in-chicken-biscuits-at-nextstop-theatre-company","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/dctheaterarts.org\/2025\/03\/17\/laughter-to-warm-your-soul-in-chicken-biscuits-at-nextstop-theatre-company\/","title":{"rendered":"Laughter to warm your soul in ‘Chicken & Biscuits’ at NextStop Theatre Company"},"content":{"rendered":"

Gathering after the death of a beloved patriarch, the close-knit Jenkins family soon finds his funeral to be more than just a celebration of life and legacy. As their collective grief brings to the surface challenging secrets and strained relationships, Chicken & Biscuits<\/em> by Douglas Lyons finds laughter and vulnerable stillness through deeply human stories and storytellers. Playing through April 6 at NextStop Theatre Company, this production under the direction of Rikki Howie Lacewell is a heaping serving of Black family life, traditions, and joy that invites you to pull up a chair and finally share what\u2019s on your heart.<\/p>\n

Carrying much of the pressure is the eldest and now \u201chead\u201d of the family, Baneatta, played by Bruni Herring. Married, tenured, and with two grown children of her own, Herring\u2019s portrayal showed the weight of generational cycles and the cracks that that heaviness slowly but surely caused in her seemingly picture-perfect life. No longer able to use her accomplishments as armor, Baneatta\u2019s loss of control often caused her to lash out like a child \u2014 like the one she was never allowed to be when she was younger.<\/p>\n

\"\"
DeJeanette Horne with (from left) Ben Ribler, Ira F. Coats Jr., Amari Chambers, and Brianna Nobles in \u2018Chicken & Biscuits.\u2019 Photo by DJ Corey Photography.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Supporting his wife through this tremendous life shift while also taking over the pulpit from his father-in-law at their church, Reginald, played by DeJeanette Horne, brought a lively balance of comedic relief, soul-stirring motivation, and steady calm to the production. Determined to keep legacy alive, Horne\u2019s sermon in particular was an incredible exercise in pacing and energy. Even in the small act of welcoming Brianna played by Bianca Lipford to the microphone showcased the comfort Horne\u2019s Reginald provides his family, leading through action and faith.<\/p>\n

Grown eldest daughter of a grown eldest daughter, Simone, played by Sirra Faal, also took on much of the play\u2019s mantle of pressure and responsibility. Like mother like daughter, Faal\u2019s Simone fought to overthrow the expectations placed on her by herself and by society \u2014 in a performance that crackled with energy and intelligence.<\/p>\n

Where Simone struggled with perception, son Kenny, played by Ira F. Coats Jr., grappled with his dual identities as a Black man and as a gay man. Often tempted to revert to a closeted version of himself, Coats\u2019 Kenny skillfully vacillated between his equally strong desires to be recognized for who he is, to honor the grandfather who cherished his happiness, and to stand with his partner \u2014 Logan, played by Ben Ribler \u2014 the reason for much of his happiness. Trying to be supportive in unfamiliar circumstances, Ribler\u2019s Logan was endearingly awkward and often enthusiastically mistimed, punctuating the story with moments of release and laughter.<\/p>\n

Last but certainly not least, the boisterous mother-daughter duo of Beverly, played by Brianna Nobles, and La\u2019Trice, played by Amari Chambers, were the queens of uproarious laughter and unapologetic joy in the production \u2014 taking every moment as a chance to play and shine with enough personality to fill the heavens. Nobles\u2019 Beverly was confident, short-fused, and a straight shooter who instantly charmed (and disarmed) the audience. But it was Chambers who really stole the show for me as the self-assured La\u2019Trice. A force of teenage attitude that demanded to be respected and reckoned with, Chambers\u2019 portrayal had the immortality and immaturity of a nearly 16-year-old balanced to perfection.<\/p>\n

\"\"
TOP: Ben Ribler and Amari Chambers; ABOVE: Sirra Faal, Bianca Lipford, Brianna Nobles, and Bruni Herring, in \u2018Chicken & Biscuits.\u2019 Photos by DJ Corey Photography.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

As I\u2019ve come to expect from the NextStop Theatre Company\u2019s creative team, Chicken & Biscuits<\/em> delivered another clever staging \u2014 this time to place the audience in the literal seats of the congregation for this lively and enlivening funeral. More often than not, the fourth wall was entirely removed, and audience members were outright encouraged to participate, be it through a laugh or a hearty \u201cAmen.\u201d Scenic design by Jack Golden, lighting design by Hailey LaRoe, and sound design by Janice Rivera built a world that was both sacred and warm, while costume design by Imari Pyles and prop design by Marty Bernier layered in the nuance of modern, multi-generational Black American life.<\/p>\n

Simultaneously asking how we can start again and inviting us to take one deep breath, Chicken & Biscuits<\/em> at NextStop Theatre Company creates the kind of laughter that warms your soul as much as it propels you forward. With purposeful intention, this production reminds us to create space for connection, poke at imperfection, and gather around the table for the kind of healing magic that is only possible when the whole family is together.<\/p>\n

Running Time: 90 minutes with no intermission.<\/p>\n

Chicken & Biscuits<\/em><\/strong><\/a> plays through April 6, 2025, at NextStop Theatre Company<\/a>, located at 269 Sunset Park Drive in Herndon, VA. Tickets, priced at $45 with a $2 convenience fee, are available for purchase onlin<\/strong>e<\/strong><\/a> or by calling the box office at (703) 481-5930 x1. For more information, email BoxOffice@NextStopTheatre.org.<\/a><\/p>\n

A digital program is available here<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Post-Show Talkback:<\/strong> March 23 – A Discussion on Family Trauma and Healing<\/em> with Director Rikki Howie Lacewell and Licensed Professional Counselor Valerie Patton.<\/p>\n