It began on The Carol Burnett Show more than 40 years ago, and the madness carried on with the hit sitcom Mama’s Family, which ran for six seasons in the mid-1970s.  It was Vicki Lawrence at her best in the role of cantankerous “Mama,” and we can all witness part of the spectacle again, at the Choctaw Casino in Pocola, Oklahoma, on January 21, 2015.

The “Vicki Lawrence and Mama: 40th Anniversary Tour” will take to the stage next month for one show at the Choctaw that will feature comedy, music and Vicki’s (and “Mama’s”!) observations about life.

In a press release on Vicki’s website announcing the tour, Vicki says, “I think people will get a kick out of the things Mama has an opinion about.”  If you’ve ever watched Mama’s Family or seen the original skit on Carol Burnett, just hearing that statement should bring a smile to your face.  “Mama” was definitely opinionated if she was nothing else.

The reunion show will be on the Pocola CenterStage at 8 p.m.  Tickets are $54 to $70.  The Choctaw show will be the 27th of the tour, which kicked off in Las Vegas in January 2014.  It will be followed by shows in Mississippi, Missouri, Illinois, New Jersey, Connecticut and a handful of other states.

“Mama” was hilarious on TV, and I imagine the character brought to life again by Vicki Lawrence will be just as funny on stage.  If you never had the chance to see “Mama” in action, here’s a short clip from the skit on Carol Burnett.

Nick & Ellie