People's Theatre
10th June 2025
Written by Robert Harling
Directed by Mark Burden
Cast:
Truvy Jones - Emma Jane Robson
Annelle Dupuy-Desoto - Ashton Matthews
Shelby Eatenton-Latcherie - Minnie Dobson
M'Lynn Eatenton - Anna Dobson
Clairee Belcher - Moira Valentine
Ouiser Boudreaux - Alison Carr
This week The People's Theatre are taking us back to the 1980s with the stage production of Steel Magnolias and the experience begins from the moment you take your seat in the auditorium. The stage is set to perfection as Truvy's salon, complete with sit under hairdryers, various bottles and sprays, stacks of towels, a coffee table strewn with beauty magazines for the ladies to peruse while they wait, and of course a ribbon curtain to separate the salon from the staff only storage area.
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The opening scene sees Truvy (Emma Jane Robson) trying out a potential new stylist. The new girl, Annelle (Ashton Matthews) is nervous and worried that her styling might be too "poouffy" because of her nerves. Truvy reassures her that is is fine, she has done a good job and offers her the job...but when Annelle goes into the back room, Truvy quickly readjusts her hair. When Annelle girl comes back out Truvy carries on chattering to her as if nothing is amiss. Truvy reveals that today is a big day because not only do they have the regulars to do, they also have the daughter of one, Shelby, who is not a regular but is getting married that afternoon and so is a special case! One by one the regulars start to arrive - their arrivals punctuated by the sound of shots from outside - this we learn is Shelby's father scaring birds from the trees so that the wedding guests will not be inconvenienced. Wedding nerves are a little frayed the gunshots are not helping. Annelle is introduced to them all and thye welcome her with friendly questions - but Annelle is polite but evasive questioned about her background. They are intrigued by her and suspect a story, but their curiosity is warm and concerned and when her truth is revealed they welcome her into their circle of friendship, and she fits right in with their quirky personalities.
Each of the women in this circle have burdens to deal with - mostly husbands with varying degrees of useful/uselessness. Clairee (Moira Valentine), recently widowed is learning to cope with her husband, and without the status she enjoyed as the wife of the mayor, Truvy throws herself into her work in the salon as her way to cope with an idle husband and two challenging sons, while M'lynn (Anna Dobson) and Ouiser (Alison Carr) find ways to disagree over M'Lynn's husband and a boundary dispute between their properties. Shelby (Minnie Dobson) has to deal with being type 1 diabetic and everything that that brings - including an over protective mother! Despite their differences they are firm friends and they laugh and complain and squabble and make up again on a daily basis. Their friendship is stronger than their differences and has survived many fallings out.
The characters are all larger than life but there is a truth and reality to them. They are well observed, rounded characters, full of wit and sass. This is undoubtedly due to the fact that Steel Magnolias was inspired by Robert Harling's sister, and the character of Shelby was based on her. He has clearly drawn on his experience of to create these southern women - fragile, yet with a core of steel. The cast and director do full justice to his writing. The women are gloriously practical, and funny - their humour cutting through any and all situations, making even the unbearable bearable.
The play skips along, taking us from laughter to tears and back again. The casting is spot on; I can't imagine anyone else for each of the roles, and each one gives a stand out performance, but do watch out for M'Lynn's speech in the final scene as Anna Dobson's performance is heart-wrenching - you will need tissues!
I don't usually give stars, but this one is absolutely a five star production.
Steel Magnolias runs till Saturday.
*photo credit Jess Williams
Denise Sparrowhawk
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