“The Baptist Witches of Shelbyville” now at Whitefire

Some parts of the world seem to provide more fertile soil in which plays can grow. Ireland and New York have been especially fruitful, providing O’Neill, Miller, McPherson and McDonagh with plentiful inspiration. The American South is no less productive, with Williams casting a long, lurid shadow. Taking its place amidst the Steel Magnolias and Crimes of the Heart is Julie Shavers’ world premiere, The Baptist Witches of Shelbyville. There are significantly fewer witches than one might imagine, but the production at Whitefire Theatre more than makes up for that with engaging writing, abundant humor and terrific performances.

Lucinda (Mamie Gummer) has returned home to Tennessee to visit her family to celebrate the Fourth of July together. Her younger sisters, Birdie (Shavers) and Kitty (Ashley Ward), are happy enough to see her, but there’s plenty of ongoing drama for her to catch up on. Birdie is dating a man just released from prison who may be a murderer, Kitty is obsessed with getting her sisters to sing with her at a weekend event, and Mama (Gigi Bermingham) is fed up with taking care of her dementia-afflicted mother. Over the course of the holiday, the sisters squabble but also discover some secrets that may bind them together more tightly.

Gummer excels in the quieter moments of the show, especially in a speech in which she worries about the history of racism in the family, but she also holds her own in a mean argument scene with one of her sisters. Ward is very good as the more levelheaded but frustrated Kitty, and Angelie Simone gives a funny, high-energy portrayal as Birdie’s daughter, Lottie. Bermingham is great if somewhat underused as Mama, who thinks religion is the solution to everything in life. Shavers steals the show in a hilarious performance as the outspoken Birdie, playing her combination of anger and humor with expert skill.

Director Daniel O’Brien gets strong, detailed work from his cast, and his swift pacing keeps the play from ever dragging. Shavers has a talent for colorful turns of phrase, from describing Mama as “a wildcat in a Christmas sweater” to chastising Kitty’s fear of infection by stating, “If she didn’t want a (brain-eating) amoeba, she should’ve kept her ass on the boat!” My initial feeling early in the play was that the characters and plot seemed a bit familiar and stereotypical, until I realized that I literally know people and situations like this in my extended family. Shavers captures the mix of desperation, resilience and blunt comedy that is modern life in many parts of this country.

The Baptist Witches of Shelbyville is presented by Black Rocking Chair Productions at Whitefire Theatre and plays Fridays & Saturdays only, through May 1, 2026. Tickets are available here.