Southern Gothic Novel: The Aberdeen, Mississippi Sex-Slave Incident
Created by Frank Blocker
Produced by Razmus Productions, Naples, USA
Review by Cristina Paolozzi
60 min / 14+ / Storytelling, Comedy / Solo / Mature language
This one-man show starring Frank Blocker pulls no punches — and neither do most of his wise-cracking, southern drawl bearing, no-nonsense characters.
The story of Viola Haygood and her mother in Aberdeen, Mississippi follows a tale of romance, heartbreak, race relations in ‘70s Mississippi and an allegorical junebug, expertly narrated and performed by Blocker.
Frank Blocker in Southern Gothic Novel: The Aberdeen, Mississippi Sex-Slave Incident. Photo by Toni Palumbo Vasquez.
After Viola falls in love (again) with a mysterious stranger, her community is reeling while girls keep going missing at Big Otis’ saloon. Viola and her childhood friend—and potential lover—find themselves in the middle of a brotherly rivalry and ongoing sex trade.
This exciting performance was perfect for an intimate setting, and Blocker’s projection and clarity made each character unique and hilarious. Who knew there were so many different versions of a southern drawl?
Frank Blocker in Southern Gothic Novel: The Aberdeen, Mississippi Sex-Slave Incident. Photo by Toni Palumbo Vasquez.
As this performance is a one man show, the structure relies completely on Blocker’s stage presence. Gliding across the stage in a Hawaiian shirt with nothing but a black box as his prop, Blocker guides the audiences’ imagination through the sultry and sweltering Mississippi heat.
If you’re looking for something intimate, yet exciting, Southern Gothic Novel: The Aberdeen, Mississippi Sex-Slave Incident is the show for you.
Southern Gothic Novel: The Aberdeen, Mississippi Sex-Slave Incident is playing at Studio 1201 from June 13–23. Tickets are $14 plus service fees at the Fringe box office (3rd floor, Arts Court, 2 Daly Avenue), and at the two satellite box offices (LabO in the Ottawa Art Gallery and La Nouvelle Scene). 5 and 10 Show Passes are also available. Visit the Ottawa Fringe Festival’s website for the show’s schedule and check out their online schedule here.
