Steel Magnolias

Thank you for your kind invitation to report on your production of “Steel Magnolias”, a very touching play about a small group of women and their responses to the events in their lives.  As the author wrote it as a memoir for his sister, it had a real authenticity in both emotion and language.  The script was beautifully written, with six quite different characters gently expressing their relationships with each other.

The set, comprising a hair salon, was very realistic, with all the small things that are required for a hair salon, even with running water on stage in the specialist hair washing basins.  The trolleys for equipment, magazines, a couch, table, staff room off to the left, and salon chairs all helped to create that sense of reality. There was even a neon sign advertising “Truvy’s”, pictures of sample hair styles and a portrait of Dolly Parton!  

The lighting was very good, with not many changes but a nice atmosphere created within the salon.  The sound effects were well cued, and very effective, with the phone ringing, radio playing onstage, the street gun shots, explosion and dog barking adding to the realism. 

Costumes were relaxed with salon aprons were appropriate with time passing marked by the changes of look.  The wigs were also very good, with some nice subtle changes to hair length and style at times.   The varied groupings of the characters on stage was very effective, with good variety and placing.  This created the feeling of a warm group of friends well. 

Characters:

Truvy:  portrayed as a decisive and positive personality, firmly in charge of the beauty salon but also enjoying the friendship of her clients.  She shows kindness and practical solutions to Annelle’s problems.  A well-acted performance though sometimes rather weak on lines.  A believable character with very nice touches of humour.

Annelle:  a good portrayal of a nervous anxious-to-please new employee, exploited by her “husband,” but gradually gaining in confidence and well-being with the support of Truvy, the clients and her Church.  A sensitive and well depicted performance.  

Clairee:  portrayed as an established member of Chinquipin society, missing the buzz of being the Mayor’s wife.  She uses her odd sense of humour to diffuse difficult situations and to lighten the mood, as clearly shown with the “hit her” joke after M’Lynn’s emotional outburst.  A humorous and enjoyable performance.

Shelby:  portrayed as a gentle soul but also very determined and prepared to endanger her health as the price of motherhood.  Good characterisation, capturing Shelby’s essentially loving personality together with her underlying resolve.  A well-acted and thought-provoking performance.

M’Lynn:  portrayed as a character whose personal thoughts and deep worries about Shelby are kept in strict control beneath a calm and jokey exterior.  An excellent performance, especially in the last scene when pent-up emotions give way to a tearful tirade of grief. Beautifully acted and heartbreakingly sad.

Ouiser:  portrayed as bad-tempered and moody in an amusing manner.  Caustic remarks and a quarrelsome attitude are combined with affection for her dog and concern for Shelby.  An interesting character, very well depicted.

Altogether this was a very touching play that engaged the audience in the lives of the characters.  All the actions of the ‘hairdressers’ was totally believable with the client mirrors being the fourth wall. It was very well planned and staged, with a beautiful set that worked wonderfully. Many congratulations!

© NODA CIO. All rights reserved.