Deborah Childs thundered across the stage, a swirling storm of sparkle and spite. In character as ruthless socialite Trudy Habersham, she was lording it over the maid, arguing with the caterer, contriving to sit near prominent patrons at a club luncheon and feuding with her family -- all while lining up press coverage to document her good deeds, intent on making a magazine's top 10 list of charitable Atlantans.
Five rows from the stage sat one of Atlanta's real social swans.
"I don't know anybody like that," declared Melanie Boltax, a fixture on the black-tie circuit and a philanthropic powerhouse who has raised funds for a number of charities, chairing a slew of events and supporting many others. "It's charity. I don't know anybody who does it for the notoriety."
As Childs prepared to take her final bow as the socially ambitious Trudy in "Peachtree Battle," we invited Boltax to view the play with us and give her assessment of how authentic Childs has been in skewering her ilk.
"It's a caricature," said Boltax, who is chairing the Feb. 13 "Haute Hounds and Couture Cats" fashion show and luncheon at Saks Fifth Avenue to benefit the Atlanta Humane Society; an April 24 ladies hat luncheon at the Swan Coach House to benefit the Beauty Becomes You Foundation; and the fifth annual Camp Kudzu benefit this fall. "When I first started doing charity work, I didn't know anything about getting attention from the press. It wasn't until I did the Ron Clark Academy gala [in 2008]. It was then that I realized how helpful it is to have a good PR person to get the word out."
Childs originated the role when "Peachtree Battle" premiered more than 10 years ago. With so many film and television projects coming to Atlanta these days, Childs decided to pursue new acting opportunities. Tafee Patterson takes over the role starting next week; show time is 8 p.m. Thursday and Friday nights.
"Trudy transcends," Childs said, striking a wistful tone after the Thursday night performance, her second-to-last. "I've had people from all different walks of life tell me, ‘You're just like my mother.' I say, ‘I'm so sorry.' "
With Childs planning to exit the Ansley Park Playhouse for good, we wondered what the generals in Atlanta's air-kissing army would have to say about the woman who's been lampooning them for a decade. Does Atlanta society laugh at itself enough?
"No (it) doesn't," said Sally Dorsey, who will serve as host committee chair for the Chairman's Tent at the April 14 Atlanta Steeplechase and will chair the March 3 Buckhead Rotary Foundation Ball. "Nor do Atlanta's social swans always have a sense of humor about what they do. As one of those ladies, I believe my job is to raise money and awareness for the charities I work for, and I take that job very seriously. But I try not to take myself too seriously."
She's seen "Peachtree Battle" a number of times. "I always laughed my head off," Dorsey said.
John Gibson and Anthony Morris co-own the theater and co-wrote the play. Gibson had been involved with Atlanta's philanthropic scene prior to launching "Peachtree Battle," and drew inspiration for Trudy's character from what he witnessed.
"You had to be very smart to do what these women do," he said. "It's like politics. You have to know everything and everyone. And you have to do it in heels. It's exhausting."
But it makes for a good laugh, too.
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