Steel Magnolias

Author: Matthew Bryant

Information

Date
9th October 2024
Society
Penarth Operatic & Dramatic Society
Venue
Paget Rooms, Penarth
Type of Production
Play
Director
Sally Mathias
Producer
Nigel Crick

Steel Magnolias is a play by American writer, Robert Harling and is based on his experience of his sister’s death due to complications from type 1 diabetes. It is an all-female play with just six characters in it. I travelled to The Paget Rooms in Penarth to see this production and was given the usual warm welcome by PODS who are celebrating their centenary year this year.

Lights came up to reveal a fantastic set, designed by PODS newcomer, Daisy Morris. It transported us inside the salon of Truvy Jones. The set was well designed and constructed and the whole team should be congratulated for this.

The play relies heavily on the strength of the cast to deliver the fantastic comedy and heartbreaking sadness that has been written. I can say that without exception, this was achieved by the six wonderful women on stage.

Laura Day (Annelle), Amanda Matthews (Truvy), Nikki Wilson (Clairee), Chloe Welsh (Shelby), Penni Carr (M’Lynn) and Emma Dennett (Ouiser) worked incredibly well together. They took the audience on a rollercoaster ride of emotions; picking them up with perfectly timed comedy moments and sending them crashing back down again in the extremely well-handled, more sad and poignant parts of the play. They all had very distinct and very ‘real’ characters that never wavered. You could tell that they have enjoyed working with each other and have a great deal of respect for each other.

It would be very unfair of me to single any of them out in this report, however I must mention the extraordinary delivery of the final, gut-wrenching scene by Penni Carr. It was simply phenomenal. Every one of these ladies gave truly magical performances of which they should be proud. The pace of the dialogue and action was perfect.

The audience heard every word that each person said and felt every emotion they all felt.

One of the things I love most about theatre is the way it can make you feel when it is done properly. I laughed and I cried (a lot!). Congratulations must go to director, Sally Mathias for delivering a production so full of fantastic moments.

This was a truly outstanding production. Thank you, ladies, and everyone involved for a wonderful evening of theatre. I look forward to seeing you all again soon.

The views in this report are solely of the author.

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