Steel Magnolias

The production of ”Steel Magnolias” was the inspiration of Robert Harling, who wrote it as a tribute to his sister, Susan. In this play, Susan is portrayed as Shelby played by Natasha Mills. The events of her life of illness, the desire for a child, her kidney transplant and subsequent death are factual and makes it a sad story.

However, the eclectic group of ladies that meet in the hairdressing salon and become part of the life of the lively young Shelby and how they interact with one another makes for an interesting and thoughtful evening.

The hair salon is run by Truvy (Claire Cossins), a go ahead young girl who is bubbly and has just the right approach for a hairdresser with keeping up with the conversations that take place in these establishments. Shelby’s mother, M’Lynn played by Karem Haslam was the protective mother figure always looking out for her daughter and trying to protect her from pain and distress. Shelby just wanted to live her life normally and ignore her problems as much as she could. Truvy needed an assistant and that was Annelle (Clarice Ryan). Over the two and a half years covered in the action, she grew from a nervous apprentice to a comparatively sensible young person.  Clairee (Andrea White), a regular client in the parlour,  was a widow and the local celebrity who was philanthropic to any deserving cause. The sixth character to appear was Ouiser (Veryan Jennings), a little bit of an oddball in her attitudes but a pleasant enough person.  All these parts were well cast and every  one enacted their parts and characteristics extremely well.

The bright and cheerful set was very efficiently arranged, so that the dialogue and action could follow naturally.  I am no expert on ladies’ hair styling but to me the washing, cutting, combing and drying looked quite authenticate whilst still remembering the wordy script. The sound technicians had quite a lot of cues in the earlier part of the play and this was executed to precision.   

Productions that are highly dependant on the dialogue as opposed to plenty of action can sometimes become a little staid but director, Vinny Shepherd, had just the right amount of movement and activity throughout the performance to stop that being the case for this particular play.  

In all, this was a thought-provoking, sensitive enactment of a sad event in the life of an American gentleman, who wrote this when life was at a low ebb. Congratulations to the production team, actors and backstage for a well rehearsed and empathetic portrayal of a true story.  

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