In Atlanta, a city not known for theater, quirky comedy packs 'em in

<p>Sorry, Miss Daisy. A comedy about a Hooters waitress has become the most successful play in Atlanta history.</p><p>"Peachtree Battle," the story of an old-guard Atlanta family stunned when their son brings home the unexpected fiancee, will put on its 500th performance this weekend. It has passed "Driving Miss Daisy" as the longest-running play in local theater history.</p><p>The comedy, its name taken from an exclusive street in the wealthy Buckhead neighborhood, follows the many troubles of the Habersham family. Daughter Candler has an eating disorder, and son Holcomb is gay and lost his partner in a car crash.</p><p>That leaves youngest son Ansley as the family favorite, until he scandalizes his kin by introducing them to his intended _ a busty, black Hooters girl named Tiffani.</p><p>Oh, and if that's not enough, grandma has a drinking problem.</p><p>"It's really a pretty dark, dysfunctional family," said Anthony Morris, who co-wrote the play with partner John Gibson. "We didn't know if people were going to think any of this was funny."</p><p>Morris and Gibson, a team that wrote and produced several regional comedies before "Peachtree Battle," worried even more when the 9/11 attacks happened just days after opening.</p><p>Then a critic for The Atlanta-Journal Constitution called it "an unforgivably bad soap opera." It looked like Morris' idea for an open-ended run, common in New York but rare in Atlanta, was a huge miscalculation.</p><p>But a month later, in October, 2001, "Peachtree Battle" sold out its tiny 120-seat theater. It's been sold out every performance since, with a weeks-long waiting list for tickets.</p><p>It seemed audiences related to the Habershams a little more than anyone expected.</p><p>Theatergoers used to seeing touring companies, and plays written in other cities, were struck by "Battle's" many local references. The writers skewer Georgia politicians and take countless good-natured swipes at being Southern.</p><p>Early in the show, as mother Trudy Habersham (Deborah Childs) prepares a last-minute gala for her son's engagement party, she frantically calls her favorite caterer.</p><p>"Can I get the Strom Thurmond cake?" she asks. "You know, the chocolate one with the white topping?"</p><p>Later, Trudy challenges the parenting skills of her boozy mother, Azalea Wieuca (Anna House).</p><p>"Your idea of good parenting is teaching a 6-year-old how to make a perfect martini," Trudy says.</p><p>Azalea just shrugs. "Worked for the Bush twins," she says.</p><p>With a few exceptions, the actors trade insults with unforced Southern accents _ another rarity even in Atlanta productions.</p><p>Especially charming is dad Sherwood Habersham (Shields Upchurch), who is estranged from his wife but is called to talk some sense into his son. Ordered to dissuade Ansley from marrying Tiffani, he calls Ansley away from the others and offers his thoughts on marrying a Hooters girl.</p><p>"You did it, son!" he nearly shouts, giving Ansley a big hug for his accomplishment.</p><p>The laughs are plentiful through the two-act play. To Gibson and Morris, "Peachtree Battle" is helping change Atlanta's reputation as a town unsupportive of theater.</p><p>"We've heard for so long that Atlanta won't go for it, Atlanta doesn't support theater," Gibson said. "That's not true _ Atlantans are dying for good theater. If it's something that entertains them, something they can relate to, they'll support it."</p><p>"Peachtree Battle" has done so well _ grossing $1.6 million even in a small theater _ that Gibson and Morris are in talks to develop a television series, or a New York version for a Broadway run. They're evasive about details, but say they expect a deal to be announced this year.</p><p>"The key to success is, bottom line, it has to be funny," Morris said. "Yes, it's Southern, but it could happen anywhere. You could call it regional, or lowbrow, but it's really classic comedy."</p><p>___</p><p>On the Net:</p><p>HASH(0x286422c)</p>

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