Steel Magnolias

As the curtain went up, we were taken into a Beauty Parlour set in the North Western Louisiana parish of Chinquapin – such a great setting for what we were going to experience.  Robert Harling wrote this comedy/drama after a family tragedy in connection with diabetes and Steel Magnolias certainly describes the women arriving for hair dos and beauty therapy.  They have been called as delicate as magnolias but as tough as steel and all those taking part portrayed their characters so well.  They were a group of women who bonded but who also had their differences of opinion on many matters.

The play opened with Truvy Jones, the owner of the Beauty Parlour, having her hair done by Annelle Dupuy and on the strength of that, Truvy (played by Jane Parratt) employed Annelle (Rebecca Tanner).  Both characters came over extremely well with Truvy (as she said) helping the women who came to her find their inner beauty (or words to that effect) and Annelle who suffered with her nerves at the outset but who became much more settled when she had found God.

M’Lynn Eatenton (Shelby’s mother) was played by Sue Talmadge and she had very definite views on her daughter’s future.  Shelby Eatenton-Latcherie (delightfully played by Nicola Cullen) was diabetic and had been told she would never have children so when M’Lynn heard that she was pregnant she received the news with horror but eventually came round as Shelby seemed so well.

 Clairee Belcher (played by Yvonne Corbishley) was apparently quite a wealthy woman who eventually bought the local Radio Station. Another great character.  And here I must mention the only man in the piece – the DJ, from whom we heard occasionally but didn’t see, was played by Ian Parratt with panache.

Helen Griffin burst into the scene as Ouiser Boudreaux, a woman with many problems who voiced her views in no uncertain terms.  Again, great character acting.

All the women were great friends. This bonding really came over and I must admit that I had a tear in my eye during the last scene when we found that Shelby had died.  The pathos, the bonding and the moments of pure comedy were all dealt with in exceptional fashion by all the cast and many congratulations must go to Cris Haniver for her excellent direction and to all the cast for keeping up their southern American accents throughout.

The backstage team must have worked very hard to produce such an excellent set.  Many thanks to them and to all backstage and to those who worked front of house.

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