A night with Madea

Attending a Tyler Perry play is unlike any experience in mainstream theater. The actor-writer-director has an established fan base and seems to thrive on audience connection. If this means frequently breaking character, then so be it.

Perry’s stage production, “Madea’s Big Happy Family,” which closes today at the Kodak Theatre in Hollywood, is on a national tour.

The production features Perry in his signature role as Madea, the silver-haired, plus-sized force of nature whose disciplinarian attitude often sends her relatives running for cover.

Those who have attended Perry’s plays know what to expect in terms of the actor’s seemingly spontaneous inclination to break the fourth wall and directly address the audience.

For those who are new to the game, here are a handful of Perry insights:

Get to the theater on time: The curtain will rise at the designated hour whether you are in your seat or not. And if you’re not, be prepared for a scolding from Madea herself. During a recent performance at the Kodak, she singled out latecomers as they scurried to their seats. “Sit the hell down!” she said. “People pay good money not to have you crawling all over them in the dark.”

R&B knowledge is a plus: Many of Perry’s plays feature musical interludes in which characters break out into song. Some of the numbers are original and others are well-known hits from the R&B canon.

Bible knowledge is also a plus: It’s no secret that Perry’s fan base is largely female, African American and churchgoing. His characters have a tendency to quote Scripture and invoke God and Jesus. These references tend to get big responses from the audience.

Don’t expect narrative cohesion: When Madea gets going, it’s hard for her to stop. Her long-winded monologues are the centerpiece of Perry’s new play, combining elements of stand-up comedy and old-fashioned maternal haranguing. They bring the play to a halt, perhaps deliberately so. “I’m so far off the script right now,” Madea said before doubling over in laughter.

Expect to stay late: Perry is known for coming out on stage after the show and speaking to the audience, though he doesn’t always do it. At a Kodak performance, he appeared (out of Madea drag) and took the opportunity to blast Spike Lee, though he didn’t mention the director by name. Last year, Lee publicly made comments about Perry’s films and TV shows, describing them as “coonery” and “buffoonery.”

Perry said: “I can’t understand why certain black directors can’t just stay in their own yards. You tell your stories, and I’ll tell mine. And that’s the nicest way I can put it.”

-- David Ng