'Laffin Out Loud': Sister Cantaloupe creator Trina Jeffrie to perform in Alexandria Saturday

She's nosy. She's boisterous. She's Sister Cantaloupe, comedian Trina Jeffrie's outrageous fictional church busybody, and she's coming to Alexandria at 7 p.m. Saturday at the Coughlin-Saunders Performing Arts Center.Jeffrie started her entertainment career as a youngster, honing her natural flair for the theatrical and ability to make people laugh with her church's choir and theater groups, according to a biography on Billboard.com.
This is where the good-hearted but pushy character got her start.
Sister Cantaloupe's name came after someone asked Jeffrie the character's moniker, and the first thing that came to mind was an object in a fruit bowl.
Jeffrie took her characters to churches in the Dallas area before catching the attention of the Bobby Jones Show, according to her Web site. This helped catapult her to the forefront of gospel comedy and helped pave the way to open for acts like Kirk Franklin, Fred Hammond, Brandy, Stevie Wonder, Rickey Smiley, Steve Harvey and more.
Jeffrie released the albums "Go! Cantaloupe! Go!" in 1996, "Laffin Out Loud With The Lord" in 1999, "Un 'Be-Weave' Able" in 2002 and "Armed and Dangerous" in 2006.
"We thought she's a good act to bring to town," said Charles King of KS Productions, the company hosting Saturday's performance in Alexandria. "The comedy she does is real. (Her characters) seem like someone you know."
This won't be the first time the comedian has come to Alexandria, King said. Jeffrie performed here about three years ago.
"The response to her then was overwhelming," King said.
King said her act falls in line with the goals of KS Productions, which include having fun family activities that help expose people in Central Louisiana to a wide variety of art forms.
"It's very important to have acts come into town that you can bring the whole family to," King said. "We just want to make sure to make the area aware of the arts."
Basil Smith of KS Productions said Jeffrie's comedy is very funny, which is something some people say isn't possible with clean comedy. Jeffrie's style of comedy is especially appealing to young Christians who want to go out and have fun without having to go clubbing all the time.
"I think this is going to be an awesome experience for Central Louisiana." Smith said.
"It's kind of a new thing sweeping across the country. People want to go to a comedy show and not hear all the swearing."
Doors open at 6 p.m. Tickets cost $20 and are available by calling (318) 709-0464 or (318) 447-2966 and stopping by Smiley's Barber Shop at 210 Winn St., Simply Gorgeous Beauty Salon at 2826 Lee St. or KAYT 88.1 FM at 5003 Masonic Drive Suite 113.
Source thetowntalk.com/