STEEL MAGNOLIAS is a comedy drama about the bonds of friendship among six women in northwest Louisiana in the 1980s.
The piece was written by Robert Harding and first performed in New York in 1987. Harding wrote the play based on some of the experiences surrounding his sister’s death.
The play’s title suggests the ‘female characters are as delicate as magnolias but as tough as steel’. The magnolia specifically references a magnolia tree that they argue about at the play’s beginning.
The narrative sees Annelle (Emily Richardson), an anxious eager recent beauty school graduate, hired by the successful businesswoman Truvy (Jacqi Wilson) to work in her home-based beauty salon.
M’Lynn (Alison Chambers) a sensible and compassionate career lady and her daughter Shelby (Samantha Camilleri) arrive to prepare for Shelby’s wedding. Clairee (Margaret Olive), the cheerful wealthy widow and former first lady of the town arrives as well. Shelby who has type 1 diabetes collapses but soon recovers.
The surly, ill-tempered Ouiser (Elizabeth Gilbert) then enters the salon to complete the group of women whose lives we follow over the next three years.
Valerie Miller, the director of this engaging production by Pavilion Players, captures the essence of six very different women as they recount their adventures and misadventures in the sanctuary of Truvy’s beauty parlour.
The parlour is over-flowing with Southern charm, and plenty of clever one liners and quick repartee. These women are not stereotypes and have been strongly written. They are witty, intelligent and at times more than a little crazy. Each of the actresses bring out the unique characteristics of the woman she is playing.
Miller’s direction ensures the emotional changes lead the audience into a deep connection with the actors as we weep and laugh with their struggles and successes.
Maureen Cartlege’s set of the parlour, the lighting, sound, costumes and hair/wigs all help to bring this world vividly to life.
Each character has their own story to tell from Annelle’s transformation to a good-time girl then repentant revival-tent Christian, Shelby’s medical battles and M’Lynn’s sacrifice for her daughter.
For a good hairdo plus the sharing of secrets and love, book in to STEEL MAGNOLIAS, playing till the 22nd August at the Pavilion Theatre, Doran Drive, Castle Hill.