Genesian Theatre

Bourgeoise Reviews And Banter

Steel Magnolias is a play about women. Real women. Warm, funny, bright and tough women. Not tough in the way men are, but in their own indomitable way, having a resilience to the curve balls life throws at them that men can only dream of. The play centres on six women, all with very different personalities, who divulge their dreams, secrets, fears and sometimes just plain old gossip, at the hairdresser. The playwright, Robert Harling, captures perfectly that wonderful familiarity of female friends when gathering in a place they feel comfortable enough to let loose. In this case, Truvy’s Beauty Shop. Set in the Deep South, the play takes us through four seasons, reflecting the changing circumstances in the lives of these women over time. The four seasons are cleverly portrayed by changes in the lighting but the set itself never changes. Almost a metaphor, perhaps, for the lives of the characters.

The ensemble cast makes this a production. Each equally as good. Such strong performances in fact that the audience feels as if they are right in there with them having their hair and nails done by Truvy, superbly played by Molly Haddon, with just the right amount of grit, humour, kindness and empathy. In fact the audience is on the other side of the mirror. Very clever use of the fourth wall. So engrossed are we, the audience, in the everyday banter between Truvy and her clients, that we are kind of sideswiped by Shelby’s sudden change from cheerful bride to be, to vulnerable, needy child. Shelby, Heather Tleige, seems to be made of strong stuff. We don’t expect it. It is the strength of character, not only of Truvy and Shelby’s mother M’Lynn, Georgia Britt,  but of all the women that get her through with love, humour and strength.

Attributes that all these women possess in spades. Annelle, Julia Grace, is the sweetest bible basher you’ll ever meet. Clairee, Sharron Oliver, is stylish, charming and smart as a whip, whilst Ouiser, Sandra Bass, is portrayed as being without restraint, without tact and without humility. She is probably the most sensitive of them all and hilariously funny. It is impossible to separate the cast from the characters as they are one and the same. This is also a credit to a very canny director, Ali Bendall, who has worked very hard on creating such believable relationships between these talented actors on stage , that it appears they have known each other forever.

In all a wonderful production that will make you laugh out loud and cry buckets before taking the time to catch your breath. Everything about this production, including a set which conjures the fun and candy colours of the eighties, co-ordinated eighties soundtrack and costumes specifically chosen to define character and mood, is sublime. 

By Renee Dallow

Bourgeoise Reviews And Banter