Second Samuel is an American play by Pamela Parker.[1]. It is set in the late 1940s in the small town of Second Samuel, GA, whose citizens are saddened by the death of the popular music teacher, Miss Gertrude. After they express their love of Miss Gertrude, a secret is revealed that challenges everything they ever thought about her, while at the same time changing the way the residents of Second Samuel think about the principle of loving your neighbor.
Characters
· B Flat, a simple young man who is the heart and soul of the play and serves as the narrator
· Frisky Madison, the official leader of the town and owner of the local watering hole, the “Bait and Brew”; married to Omaha
· US, a black man, Frisky’s childhood friend and best friends with B Flat and Miss Gertrude
· Mansel Dean, a harmless redneck, married to Marcela
· Mr. Mozel, the town bigot, who, according to B Flat, “don’t like nobody”
· Omaha Nebraska Madison, cute, stylish, and bossy; owner of the “Change Your Life, Hair and Beauty Emporium”; married to Frisky
· Jimmy Deanne, local preacher’s wife; thoughtless, selfish, and pretty
· Ruby, works at the hair salon
· Marcela Dean, good-natured and relentless teaser of Jimmy Deanne; married to Mansel
· Doc, the town doctor and feed store owner; he knows everybody’s secrets but “he ain’t telling”
· June Cline, town undertaker; the living makes him nervous
Plot
From the back cover of the script: “It was a simpler time in the late 1940s, especially in South Georgia and specifically in a sleepy little town called Second Samuel. What had been called the Great Depression was quickly fading into memory. The war had been won, the election was now over and "Give ‘em Hell Harry" was still president. It had been an exciting time for sure, but the folks in Second Samuel were ready for things to settle down and get back to normal. Except this was the summer Miss Gertrude passed away, and deep, dark secrets were about to be revealed. Nobody could have imagined how the death of one sweet little old lady would turn the town upside down, leaving everybody in Second Samuel wondering if anything would ever be normal again!”
The stage is set in three parts: Miss Gertrude’s front porch in the center, and on either side are the “Bait ‘n’ Brew,” a saloon and bait shop, owned by Frisky Madison, where the men of the town gather together to talk and drink, and the “Change Your Life, Hair, and Beauty Emporium,” the town beauty shop run by Frisky’s wife, Omaha Nebraska Madison, where the ladies of the town gather for beauty treatments and gossiping. The main character, B Flat, narrates the story, frequently from Miss Gertrude’s house, where he reminisces about how he got his nickname from her when she tried to teach him to play the piano. As the play begins, B Flat and the other characters fill the audience in on the history of the town, where the audience learns that the original town, simply called Samuel, was “burnt to the ground, the very ground, when that heathen Yankee, Sherman, marched his way to the sea.” Second Samuel is the result of rebuilding Samuel after “the late, great disturbance.”
The chatter at both the Bait ‘n’ Brew and the Change Your Life, Hair and Beauty Emporium on this particular day revolve around the sad news that the beloved Miss Gertrude, the town piano teacher, has passed away. Around Miss Gertrude’s front porch, we discover US getting things ready for the gathering to follow the upcoming funeral as B Flat fills in the story of what the town and its residents are like, and how Miss Gertrude was one of its most beloved members, despite the fact that she was not a native of the town. A lot of what is learned about Miss Gertrude’s past may be suspect, because much of it is told by Marcella as she gives Jimmy Deanne a hard time in a teasing way for being the snooty preacher’s wife that she is. The ladies at the beauty shop are making plans as well, deciding what they will be preparing for the gathering. When Omaha decides she needs to go over to the funeral home to ask the undertaker, June Cline, if she could fix Miss Gertrude’s hair just one more time, everyone thinks that is such a sweet idea. As the end of Act I approaches, the tone changes when Omaha and June reveal a secret they have just discovered to their cohorts in the beauty shop and the bar, where the townsfolks’ reactions hilariously lead into Act II, where every resident begins to question their own opinions and their relationships, along with their underlying racial tensions, opinions on women’s rights, and other prejudices in an ever changing world. After the initial shock of the secret causes the townsfolks to question how to honor Miss Gertrude, things finally settle down as everyone begins to realize that loving their neighbor is still the most important thing, no matter what kind of secrets they may be harboring.
History
Second Samuel was first produced in 1991by Southern Fried Productions, an Atlanta company known for its focus on southern-themed stories and films. It was first reviewed by Atlanta Journal Constitution critic Dan Hulbert in 1991[2]. It has continued to be produced numerous times since then, primarily in community theatres in the southern United States. The play had a successful run internationally with David Young Productions in Perth, Australia, in April & May of 2010 [3]
Film
A film version of Second Samuel was released in 2018, directed by J. Wayne Patterson, Jr.[4]
Citations
Parker, Pamela (1991). Second Samuel (2011 ed.). 311 Washington Street, Woodstock, IL 60098-3308: Dramatic Publishing Company. ISBN 978-1-58342-750-7.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location (link) Hulbert, Dan (September 13, 1991). "First-rate 'Second Samuel' finesses small-town south". Atlanta Journal/Atlanta Constitution.
References
“’Second Samuel’ comes to Chattahoochee,” Appen Media Group, Alpharetta, GA, Oct. 1, 2008, https://www.appenmedia.com/johns_creek/second-samuel-comes-to-chattahoochee/article_aa1b314e-e270-549c-a6b0-ea64d42d7128.html
“Southern comedy Second Samuel,” The St. Augustine Record, St. Augustine, FL, https://www.staugustine.com/story/entertainment/arts/2011/08/12/southern-comedy-second-samuel/16198820007/?gnt-cfr=1&gca-cat=p&gca-uir=true&gca-epti=z119778e005100v119778d--97--b--97--&gca-ft=202&gca-ds=sophi, Aug. 11, 2011
“Secrets in Winder,” Athens Banner-Herald, Athens, GA, March 30, 2012, https://www.onlineathens.com/story/news/state/2012/03/30/secrets-winder/15615246007/
“Local theater produces southern comedy,” The Murray State News, Murray, KY, April 12, 2012, https://thenews.org/2012/04/12/local-theater-produces-southern-comedy/
“'Second Samuel' Opening at Lionheart Theatre,” Patch, Duluth, GA, March 8, 2013, https://patch.com/georgia/duluth/second-samuel-opening-at-lionheart-theatre
“Theatre Review: ‘Second Samuel,’” Observer, Sarasota, FL, May 8, 2013, https://www.yourobserver.com/news/2013/may/08/theater-review-second-samuel/
“Second Samuel Evokes Laughs and Tears,” The Edgefield Advertiser, Edgefield, SC, June 4, 2013, https://www.edgefieldadvertiser.com/2013/06/second-samuel-evokes-laughs-and-tears/
“Theater review: A little old lady's death causes a gossip uproar in 'Second Samuel,'” VC Star, Ventura County, CA, July 4, 2013, https://archive.vcstar.com/entertainment/theater-review-a-little-old-ladys-death-causes-a-gossip-uproar-in-second-samuel-ep-292582537-351668811.html
“Review: ‘Second Samuel” explores themes of tolerance, community,” The Spokesman-Review, Spokane, WA, Oct. 27, 2013, https://www.spokesman.com/stories/2013/oct/27/review-second-samuel-explores-themes-of-tolerance/
“A heart-warming tour of "Second Samuel" - a review of the new show at On Stage Productions,” Feb. 13, 2014, Jasper Project, Columbia, SC, https://jasperproject.org/jasper-magazine-online/4759
“Alexandria’s City Park Players presents post war comedy play, ‘Second Samuel,’” Central Louisiana Living, Alexandria, LA, July 29, 2014, https://centrallouisianaliving.wordpress.com/2014/07/29/alexandrias-city-park-players-presents-post-war-comedy-play-second-samuel/
“Theater Review: Story of ‘Second Samuel' Will Warm Your Heart,” The Ledger, Lakeland, FL, https://www.theledger.com/story/news/2014/12/10/theater-review-story-of-second-samuel-will-warm-your-heart/27012836007/, Dec. 9, 2014
“Clarksville Players bring ‘Second Samuel’ to stage,” Aug. 19, 2015, The Mecklenberg Sun, Clarksville, VA, https://www.sovanow.com/articles/clarksville_players_bring_second_samuel_to_stage/
“Second Samuel at Tacoma Little Theatre,” Jan. 29, 2016, Olympia, WA, https://alecclayton.blogspot.com/2016/01/second-samuel-at-tacoma-little-theatre.html
“Second Samuel – Festival Performance,” Tacoma Little Theatre, Tacoma, WA, March 28, 2017, https://www.tacomalittletheatre.com/blog/2017/second-samuel-festival-performances
“Village Square Theatre of Lexington announces its summer Fringe Show,” Columbia Star, Lexington, SC, June 2, 2017, https://www.thecolumbiastar.com/articles/village-square-theatre-of-lexington-announces-its-summer-fringe-show/
“A Small Town Confronts Transgenderism In The 1940s,” Out Smart, Houston, TX June 16, 2017, https://www.outsmartmagazine.com/2017/06/a-small-town-confronts-transgenderism-in-the-1940s/
“Richmond Community Theatre Set for Showings of ‘Second Samuel’,” The Richmond Observer, Rockingham, NC, Jan. 30, 2018, https://richmondobserver.com/stories/richmond-community-theatre-set-for-showings-of-second-samuel,2570
“Theatre Tuscaloosa to Present ‘Second Samuel’ May 18-27,” Shelton State News, Shelton State Community College, Tuscaloosa, AL, https://www.sheltonstate.edu/theatre-tuscaloosa-to-present-second-samuel/, May 2, 2018
“Small town secrets come to light May 11 in 'Second Samuel,'” The Gadsden Times, Gadsden, AL, May 4, 2018, https://www.gadsdentimes.com/story/entertainment/local/2018/05/04/small-town-secrets-come-to-light-may-11-in-second-samuel/12298282007/
Coastal Illustrated, Aug. 14, 2018, “Exploring the Secrets of ‘Second Samuel,’” Brunswick Actors Theatre production, https://www.coastalillustrated.com/features/article_69142077-ff28-52b5-8cdc-c3ce31924835.html
“Artistic Civic Theatre opens 'Second Samuel' in Dalton, Georgia, Chattanooga Times Free Press, Jan. 16, 2019, https://www.timesfreepress.com/news/2019/jan/16/act-theatre-opens-second-samuel/
“'Second Samuel' returns to Wetumpka Depot as a reunion and dramatic reading,” Montgomery Advertiser, June 26 , 2019, https://www.montgomeryadvertiser.com/story/entertainment/2019/06/26/second-samuel-returns-wetumpka-depot-reunion-and-dramatic-reading/1570809001/?gnt-cfr=1&gca-cat=p&gca-uir=true&gca-epti=z119753e003700v119753d--97--b--97--&gca-ft=165&gca-ds=sophi
“Farmville Community Arts Center stages 'Second Samuel,'” The Daily Reflector, Greenville, NC, April 29, 2023, https://www.reflector.com/features/local/farmville-community-arts-center-stages-second-samuel/article_c3c07bba-437a-5997-8dd4-bb8b75ac4846.html
“Pulitzer finalist Pamela Parker visits Beckwith Theatre for her ‘Second Samuel,’” South Bend Tribute, South Bend, IN, Oct. 26, 2023, https://www.southbendtribune.com/story/entertainment/2023/10/26/pulitzer-finalist-pamela-parker-visits-beckwith-theatre/71326522007/
“Heart-Warming Humor: Ghostlight’s ‘Second Samuel’ in St. Pete,” The Gabber, Gulfport, FL, https://thegabber.com/heart-warming-humor-ghostlights-second-samuel-in-st-pete/, April 9, 2024
“Talk of the Town: Sherman Community Players put on production of Second Samuel,” KXII 12, https://www.kxii.com/2024/01/18/talk-town-sherman-community-players-put-production-second-samuel/, Jan. 18, 2024
“Ashe County Little Theatre to present 'Second Samuel,'” Ashe Post and Times, West Jefferson, NC, Aug. 20, 2024, https://www.ashepostandtimes.com/arts_and_entertainment/ashe-county-little-theatre-to-present-second-samuel/article_72edf526-5f06-11ef-89e0-b31536480f84.html
“Theater Review: Highly recommended - Second Samuel at The Phoenix Theatre,” Shoreline Area News, Shoreline, WA, Feb. 4, 2025, https://www.shorelineareanews.com/2025/02/theater-review-highly-recommended.html
The Sound On Stage, Stage Review – Second Samuel (Phoenix Theatre, Edmonds, WA), Feb 7, 2025, https://www.thesoundonstage.org/stage-reviews/stage-review-second-samuel-phoenix-theatre
“Second Samuel: Play looks at acceptance in small southern Georgia town,” Valdosta Daily Times, Valdosta, GA, https://valdostadailytimes.com/2025/06/04/second-samuel-play-looks-at-acceptance-in-small-southern-georgia-town/, June 4, 2025
“Potomac Players ready performances of Pamela Parker play, ‘Second Samuel,’” DC News Now, Hagerstown, MD, Sept. 4, 2025, https://www.dcnewsnow.com/news/local-news/maryland/washington-county/potomac-players-ready-performances-of-pamela-parker-play-second-samuel/
“Second Samuel, a small town grapples with sensitive social issues,” Sept. 17, 2025, LocalNews1.org, Waynesboro, PA, https://localnews1.org/play-review-second-samuel-a-small-town-grapples-with-sensitive-social-issues/
“REVIEW: A Heartfelt and Hilarious Start: Second Samuel Kicks Off Columbia Soda City Theatre’s First Season by Jane Turner Peterson,” Jasper Project, Columbia, SC, https://jasperproject.org/jasper-magazine-online/nffdb9dkwa9xy8ks8k62zzfls6be78 , Nov. 8, 2025
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