Fat Shirley's: A Trailer Park Opera (musical comedy). Plot: The tenants of Fat Shirley's trailer park throw their housebound friend and landlady a birthday party. Fat Shirley receives some rather ~ um, interesting ~ gifts; but they are well meant. Alas, Fat Shirley falls face-down into her birthday cake and croaks. Not ones to miss an opportunity for a party, her tenants throw a wake (Southern barbecue style). Her stricken loved ones wonder, Will there be trailer parks in Gloryland? Honest tears and good barbecue aside, proper etiquette is not forgotten, as one trailer-park mother takes the opportunity to instruct her crude son, If You've Got a Runny Nose (Don't Wipe it on Your Clothes). Fat Shirley's Alabama brother, John Earl, turns up at the funeral and claims Fat Shirley's property. John Earl has mercenary dreams of starting an ostrich farm ~ he promptly serves an eviction notice. The tenants are frantic, as they face the prospect of homelessness.

Later, we are privileged to peek into the tragi-comical life of Broyhill Jackson. His wife, Marva, has kicked him out and he mournfully sings of his Eating at the Waffle House, Staying at the Weekly Rate, Doggone Lonesome Blues. Broyhill's brothers ~ Futon and Camaro ~ have troubles of their own. Futon has a thing for ladies that wear hair nets. Camaro is looking at the prospect of marriage (probably having been inspired by the happiness of Ray and Connie Ray Conn (of She's my cousin, she's my wife fame). Camaro's main squeeze, Angel, has fallen for him. And she has proof of his love for her: he gives her Hickies.

Marva, tempted by traitorous thoughts of fat bank accounts, proceeds to woo the slick John Earl. But she comes to her senses and returns to her own true love, Broyhill. The tenants talk mutiny, and it appears that John Earl will get a trailer-trash tail-whuppin'.

Generally, trailer-park residents typically enjoy a reputation for shiftlessness and poor decision making. "Contrarywise!" (Fat-Shirley-speak), Fat Shirley's friends are not totally without brains or education. Futon has used his couch-potato time wisely, becoming schooled in the law and forensics of Matlock. Futon suggests they look for a will. They do find a will but there are complications. Although it briefly seems that the government will get the property, the tenants finally inherit after all. Now life is hunky-dory in trailer-park land.

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