In a season intentionally centered on women’s voices, Triangle Productions’ latest show, The Savannah Sipping Society, arrives at just the right moment. The comedy follows four women navigating life’s unexpected turns—and finding each other along the way. But behind the laughter lies something deeper: a reflection on friendship, reinvention, and the courage to begin again.
For actor Helen Raptis, that theme feels especially personal.
As she prepares for retirement after 29 years as host of AM Northwest, Raptis is stepping into a new chapter—one she plans to embrace fully. “All my friends who are retired say, ‘anything I want,’” she laughs. Her immediate plan? “Do nothing for six months.” After that, she hopes to spend more time with family in Seattle, reconnecting with nieces and nephews before they grow up too fast. There’s also art to explore, pickleball to play, and—perhaps most excitingly—the freedom to enjoy evenings out. “I normally go to bed at eight,” she says, smiling. “Now I’ll finally get to go to shows and enjoy things normal people get to enjoy.”
That sense of rediscovery mirrors the journey of her character, Dot—a 69-year-old widow whose carefully planned retirement is upended by sudden loss. “She finds herself flailing,” Raptis explains. “Life has suddenly changed for her… and that happens to so many of us.”
The play itself grew out of a larger vision from director Donnie Horn, who shaped the theater’s season around women’s stories. “Each show is designed to uplift, to discover, to understand what women are all about,” he says. “Theater doesn’t normally dedicate an entire year to that.”
Written by a team that includes a former Golden Girls writer, The Savannah Sipping Society embraces humor while exploring the lives of women “of a certain age.” According to Lisamarie Harrison, who plays Jinx, the story reflects a broader cultural shift. “Women over 40 are starting to center themselves,” she says. “Instead of centering a romantic relationship, they’re centering friendships—and I am down for it.”
Jinx embodies that shift in her own complicated way. A woman shaped by an unstable past, she drifts from place to place, often following relationships, and arrives in Savannah trying to reinvent herself as a life coach. “She’s trying to help everyone else,” Harrison explains, “but the only person she doesn’t help is herself.” That, of course, is where the other women come in.
Unlike more traditional Southern ensemble stories like Steel Magnolias, this play doesn’t revolve around family ties or tragedy. Instead, it focuses on strangers who stumble into each other’s lives—initially clashing, then gradually connecting. “Some of them don’t like each other at first,” Horn notes. “But they discover that each of them has a need—and they help each other.”
The setting—a Southern veranda—becomes symbolic of that connection. It’s a place often associated with rest and reflection, yet these women must first learn how to slow down and truly see one another.
For the cast, the rehearsal process has been just as meaningful as the story itself. “It’s been really fun,” Harrison says. “I love discovering who these women are—‘dropping into’ a character and understanding her more deeply.” Raptis agrees, adding that the relationships formed onstage mirror those offstage. “The more we rehearse, the more we understand our characters—and each other.”
That authenticity is part of what makes the show resonate. While it’s undeniably funny, it also allows characters to break the fourth wall, speaking directly to the audience with honesty and vulnerability. “They tell you exactly what they’re feeling,” Horn says. “And that’s really powerful.”
The production also benefits from a seasoned cast, including Michelle Maida as the tightly wound Randa, who must rediscover balance after losing her career, and Beth Willis as Marlafaye, a bold, unfiltered truth-teller who shakes up the group dynamic. Together, the four women create a lively, layered ensemble that balances humor with heart.
Offstage, the actors reflect on their long histories with Triangle Productions and the roles that have shaped them. Harrison recalls the thrill—and terror—of performing a one-woman show. “It felt like walking a tightrope,” she says. “I’ve never felt more alive.” Raptis fondly remembers the camaraderie of past productions, noting that many of those friendships have endured for years.
Now, as many of them enter later stages of life, their priorities are shifting. Harrison is planning a trip to Barcelona and a Mediterranean cruise, while Raptis looks forward to family time and creative exploration. “It’s time for another chapter,” she says simply.
That idea—of turning the page—is at the heart of The Savannah Sipping Society. Over six months of shared experiences, laughter, and yes, a few drinks, these women learn that life doesn’t end when plans fall apart. Instead, it opens up new possibilities.
And perhaps that’s why the show feels so timely.
“We live in a time where people feel anxious,” Horn reflects. “We need something to laugh at, something to enjoy together.” He pauses, then adds, “This show delivers what we need right now.”
In a world that often feels uncertain, The Savannah Sipping Society offers something refreshingly simple: the reminder that it’s never too late to start over—and that sometimes, the best way forward is with friends by your side.
Come celebrate the spirit of joy and friendship with Savannah Sipping Society. April 2 – 18 (Thurs, Fri, Sat @ 7:30 Sun April 12 @ 2 pm). Questions: call us 503-239-5919 or email: boxoffice@trianglepro.org
Photos by David Kinder/Kinderpics
