Shirley’s family consists of her three daughters, two sons, and a thieving brother. One daughter is a homemaker who believes that Jesus is all she needs, the other daughter is rude, arrogant, and holding on to a horrific secret from the past, and the other is very outspoken so much to the fact that she wears the pants in the relationship with her husband. Shirley’s sons’ are a bit immature and slightly misguided. Her eldest son is dealing with baby mama drama and is being torn between trying to get his life back on track, while his girlfriend wants him to go back on the streets to sell drugs in order to satisfy her materialistic needs. Shirley’s youngest son (a teenager) loves to spend his days sitting on the floor reading his SpongeBob books. Shirley also has a roommate (Cassi Davis) living with her who accidently tells the secret that tests the family’s faith, and the difficulty to forgive.
In this play, Perry explores many issues that families sometimes face in life. For instance, what should one do when secrets are kept by those we trust and love the most? Perry teaches us that in such situations as these we must grow past the pain, and love unconditionally. Perry has a special connection with his audience. Throughout the play, Perry would jump in and out of character and share some “old school” wisdom. His jokes tickled the belly, and fed the soul with laughter. Perry’s choice to use a Christian foundation for his plays continues to dominate the theatrical scene, and inspire future play writers. Hands down Madea’s Big Happy Family continues to show Tyler Perry’s true genius and craft. It is filled with laughs, love, and life-touching moments that will leave you speechless and in awe. One can only hope that Perry will return to the Stage.
About contributing writer Whitney Stein: A young woman of great character, Whitney P. Stein continues to prove she is a woman of many talents. Whitney graduated from the University of Houston-Downtown with a Bachelor’s Degree in Business. From Real Estate, to Construction, to Fashion, Whitney has a diverse level of knowledge in many industries. She has continued to express her passion for writing as a freelance writer for various publications. She is also the CEO of Paige 78, a clothing company geared towards helping raise money for under privileged children across the globe. Whitney is continuing to flourish, and leap to higher heights with her artistic style and business savvy. Contact Whitney at whitneypstein@yahoo.com
