‘Sassy Mamas’ @ Jubilee Theatre
Photos by Kyra McGhee
—Jan Farrington
“Sassy” doesn’t quite cover it, this joyful, sexy, find-your-bliss romp that got me to wondering why Jubilee Theatre had put me in the first row. (My eyes are still wide open.) But never mind; I had a fine time, and so did a matinee audience filled with chic Black sorority sisters who weren’t shy about responding to the show. This is playwright Celeste Bedford Walker’s Sassy Mamas, directed by first-timer (but a familiar face onstage) Davian Jackson—and quite a treat.
The show seems to fit perfectly with the with the noisy, raucous energy of Fort Worth’s nearby Sundance Square right now, where overseas soccer fans, music, food vendors and lots of flags are crowding the plaza, showing their team spirit and soaking in the urban cowboy culture during these World Cup days.
And in case you’re wondering, the show is recommended for mature audiences.
Crystal Williams, Deon Sanders, and Pattra Smith play long-time friends Jo Billie, Wilhelmina, and Mary, and we can tell right away how deep their connections go. Jo Billie runs a company, Wilhelmina is a foreign policy adviser to the President, and Mary is just ending a long marriage over her husband’s yen for a younger woman. Three distinct personalities, each of them searching the horizon for a future than suits them—and they’re wise enough by now to be looking to fill their own needs and make their own choices.
One thing they know for sure, they’re done with older men’s needs and assumptions. Not looking to rob any cradles, mind you, but to find grown-up guys (of a somewhat younger age) who might happily fall into a relationship with a beautiful woman, not just a pretty girl.
Williams’ Jo Billie is the least inhibited of the trio, and when she sets eyes on LaDonte (sleek-muscled Jacobie Thornton), she can’t hold back a piercing little shriek. Sanders’ Wil, whose busy political schedule leaves her short of time, is eyeing elegant, smart journalist Wes (Brian Gibson is charming and eager); and Smith’s Mary, whose children are grown, is an avid gardener who’d like to see her handsome landscaper Colby (Christopher Hill) indoors, not just outside.
In each case, the “guy” they’re trying on for size seems a possibility for the each one of these three very different ladies—and as they report back to their friends, the jokes and banter fly high around the stage in Bedford’s lively dialogue. I’ve got to say it’s great to have sexy comedies written by women and for women (and not by men, sorry fellas). Why? Because these friends’ shared conversations land funnier, feel truer, and dig down deeper into the real hearts of women. These ladies are looking for companionship, joy, and possibly even love…not just a one-evening fling.
Director Jackson and assistant director Kayla Marshall balance the tone and pacing of the story just right, and the costumes by Dezhane Jackson (for the women and men both) are delightful, from elegant tuxes to cool evening wear, denim overalls to silky slips. The set design of Wil’s condo, by D. Wambui Richardon with scenic touches from Jennye James, works well, and kudos to whoever picked the snatches of fine music that punctuate the action—especially for the ladies’ impromptu dances.
I won’t tell you much more about the plot (you surely know every whichaway these things can go), but will say that Walker’s script has lots more thoughtfulness and heart than I expected. Yes, there’s plenty of R-rated action onstage…but in the end, a fair part of it actually goes somewhere interesting for these characters we've come to care about.
Is there life after 50? You bet, and these three marvelous actresses and their partners, each with their own charismatic vibe, show us the way. Oh, and if there’s a soccer fan with a rolled-up flag in the seat next to you, say howdy!
WHEN: May 29-June 28, 2026
WHERE: 506 Main Street, Fort Worth
WEB: jubileetheatre.org
