Steel Magnolias

Steel Magnolias is a play by American writer Robert Harling and is based on his experience with his sister’s death. The title suggests “female characters are as delicate as magnolias but as tough as steel”. It is set in the 1980’s in Truvy’s beauty salon in a small town in north western Louisiana where a group of women regularly meet. Helped by her new assistant, Annelle (who is not sure whether or not she is still married), Truvy dispenses shampoos etc. and free advice to the town’s short-tempered, crotchety Ouiser, to an eccentric millionaire, Clairee and to local social leader M’Lynn whose daughter Shelby is about to marry. The play moves towards tragedy when, in the second act, Shelby (who is diabetic) risks pregnancy and forfeits her life. The realisation of their mortality has a great affect on them but also draws on their underlying strength and love for each other. 

Jodi - Lee Thomas was totally convincing as Truvy even down to her hairdressing skills which were very much in evidence as she ‘dressed’ Shelby’s hair for her wedding. She is the lynch pin that holds them all together and she certainly was that by delivering a very natural, bubbly and warm performance. Hannah Whitfield was top-notch as Annelle. She initially perfectly portrayed the shy, timid somewhat ditsy new salon assistant who was escaping a deadbeat ‘husband’ the story of which she so wonderful described. She too was very adept at hairdressing skills. However, when she found ‘religion’ as an enthusiastic born-again christian, we definitely saw a change in her persona and she quite humorously and forthrightly became quite an annoyance to most of the ladies. Kate Stuart was superb as Clairee, the rich widow of the former Mayor, who doesn’t know what to do with all her money so ends up buying the local radio station. The script depicts a fun-loving, sarcastic character who loves to poke fun at things that upset others and Kate definitely fulfils all of those traits brilliantly. She is best friends with Ousier and what a dream of a part this is, that is if you have the actor who can portray a miserable lady with a biting sarcastic wit who is at loggerheads with a neighbour and in her own words “I’m not crazy, I’ve just been in a bad mood for forty years”. Well, we absolutely had that and more from Sally Shaw, she was just outstanding. Petra Nolan was splendid as Shelby, the pivotal role in the play. She was charming, sweet and so upbeat as the young bride-to be despite her type-1 diabetes diagnosis. The dialogue with her mother when she told her that she was pregnant, much against the wishes of her controlling mother, was so movingly and profoundly delivered. Following her seizure, which was so sensitively handled, and the heart-rending reactions from the ladies on learning of her dialysis procedures and then being told of the upcoming kidney transplant (from her mother), we witnessed a very subdued Shelby as she became more and more frail, even her long hair was no more but, she still stayed quite positive. Some few months later Shelby went into a coma and died. A truly superb performance from Petra. Another terrific performance came from Rachel Wilson as she excellently portrays Shelby’s concerned and controlling Mum. The contentious relationship between herself and Shelby was truly believable. When she so beautifully sang ‘Remember oh darling don’t ever grow old’ and later when her feelings could no longer be hidden, Rachel so expressively portrayed the utter devastation and grief that M’Lynn was feeling. The outpourings were delivered with so much impassioned emotion - just brilliant. I was extremely impressed with the fact that all the ladies had such wonderful southern American accents and I loved the way on scene exits and entrances they sang different songs. 

The lovely set, designed by Matthew Gardner, was that of the interior of a beauty salon. There were two hairdressing chairs front centre facing the audience, to one side was a wash basin with a chair to enable the client to lean backwards over it for a shampoo and to the side of this, on one of the pink wallpapered flats, were several hooks for capes and outer coats. On the opposite side was a cupboard on which was a radio and manicurists equipment with two stools set either side. Also to hand was a trolley with all the accoutrements appropriate for a hairdresser’s salon and the inevitable standing hairdryer. At the back were double French doors. The props were excellent, including the Christmas decorations, the lighting plot was fine and the passing of time was helped by the change of costumes all of which were in keeping with the era. 

These six ladies were so well cast each demonstrating their differing personalities perfectly which together with all the staging added to make this an exceptional production. Congratulations must go to the fabulous cast, to the backstage crew, to everyone involved in any way and especially to Director Alicia Bloundele on her debut in this role. At the end of the play M’Lynn says “You have no idea how wonderful you all are” to which Turvy responds “Of course we do” and I totally concur with that statement - you were indeed!

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