The greedy Gordon family’s plotting will have you laughing in ‘Dividing the Estate’

Stella Gordon (played by Coylee Bryan, seated) won't let go of the family estate as long as she's alive. That creates conflict among her children, including her two daughters, the predatory Mary Jo (Heather Thompson, left) and the complacent Lucille (Jenny Bacon). Stella Gordon (played by Coylee Bryan, seated) won't let go of the family estate as long as she's alive. That creates conflict among her children, including her two daughters, the predatory Mary Jo (Heather Thompson, left) and the complacent Lucille (Jenny Bacon).

By Lynda Edwards April 7, 2016 3 min read

If you go

› What: “Dividing the Estate.”› When: April 8-17.› Where: Chattanooga Theatre Centre’s Circle Theatre, 400 River St.› Admission: $12.50-$25 ($30 opening night).› Phone: 423-267-8534 (box office open 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Tuesday-Friday).› Website: TheatreCentre.com.

Curtain times and special programming

› Friday, April 8: 8 p.m. curtain, opening-night gala at 7 p.m.› Saturday, April 9: 8 p.m.› Thursday, April 14: 7 p.m., with real-time captioning for hard-of-hearing patrons.› Friday, April 15: 8 p.m., with Girls Night Out refreshments and post-show ghost-light session.› Saturday, April 16: 8 p.m.› Sunday, April 17: 2:30 p.m.

The members of the Gordon family are obnoxious, bitter, angry and hilarious.

There are two reasons outsiders laugh when they hear the Gordons talking. One, they are funny even when they are mean.

“And I think audiences laugh from relief when they thank God they aren’t related to the Gordons,” says Chattanooga Theatre Centre’s Scott Dunlap, who has spent hours with the Gordons lately.