Steel Magnolias

Sale & Altrincham Messenger's preview:-

‘A touching tale of female friendship’

By Rick Bowen

THE warm and touching tale of female friendship in a Louisiana beauty salon is coming to Altrincham Garrick's Lauriston Studio. Steel Magnolias, which became an Oscar winning movie with a stellar cast, is the latest production from the small venue that's already made a big impression on Trafford's theatregoers. And director Stephanie Hawthorn is confident that the play, which she regards as far less sentimental than the film, will prove to be a hit with both sexes.

The story follows a group of women who "use the salon almost like therapy", according to Stephanie. All of human life is here being pampered and doing the pampering, from the beauty salon owner with the big heart to the woman with the marriage on dodgy legal grounds. Then there's the "eccentric who talks fluent trash." The 1989 film may have boasted a cast that included some of Hollywood's finest actresses, like Sally Field and Shirley MacLaine, but for Stephanie, it's the play that really hits the spot.

"The film also showed the male characters who are not evident in the play and the film does a real injustice to the men, because they were bumbling fools in the film," she says, adding that she also feels the theatre script is sharper and wittier than the screenplay.

Willy Russell's Shirley Valentine and Educating Rita are shining examples of the way a male writer can capture the psyche of the opposite sex so effectively. Was Stephanie surprised when she initially discovered a man wroteSteel Magnolias? "He's really got the female psyche down to a tee. He wrote it from personal experience. He had sisters and he used to go with his mother to the salon. The part of Shelby, the nice looking girl in the village, was based on his sister and the other characters are based on people he knew in the village. He was obviously very good at observing female behaviour," she says.

Sale & Altrincham Messenger's comments:-

Review - Steel Magnolias

By Julia Taylor

When Steel Magnolias opens at the Lauriston Studio Theatre at Altrincham Garrick, you expect to see two hours of trite chat from a group of silly women who have nothing better to do with their time than visit the local beauty parlour. But that is before you get to know the clients who go to unload their troubles on salon owner, Truvy, rather than to improve their looks.

Beverley Stuart-Cole who plays this pivotal role is more of a counsellor than a beautician. Above all, she is a good listener gently drawing out the thoughts and fears of her customers. Beverley is a master of multi-tasking as she busily beautifies her clients' hair and nails whilst delivering the dialogue.

Among those clients are mother and daughter M'Lynn and Shelby. It falls to Margaret Leslie to play M'Lynn the caring mum whose reaction to events reveal a kaleidoscope of emotion from anger to sadness, and Margaret meets the challenge well, proving that her character has more grit than meets the eye. She gives a particularly memorable performance towards the end when she comes to terms with a tragedy that has ruined her life.

The cause is her daughter, Shelby, a young person who is suddenly forced to face up to some unpalatable problems. Laura Chandler skilfully ensures that Shelby changes from an innocent girl to a woman who puts her husband and child first when facing up to her fate.

Annelle (Dawn Flint), Truvy's naïve new assistant, doesn't at first fit in but gradually comes out of her shell in the caring atmosphere of the salon. She is deeply religious and lacking in confidence. But the others accept her for what she is even though they are slightly bemused. Dawn uses body language and intonation to portray the change in her. Then there is Clairee, the late Mayor's widow. Val Bacon brings out Clairee's wit and determination to overcome loneliness by remaining involved in the community.

And, last but not least, is Ouiser, a constant moaner and pessimist with an obsessive love of her dog. Janet Slade shows good stage presence despite having a relatively small part. The point of Robert Harling's play is the interaction of the women and how they cope with the tragedy that eventually befalls them. The actors respond to one another with perfect timing and appropriate facial expression. Director, Stephanie Hawthorn, does well by encouraging her team to come up with these reactions. Had there been one weak link in the chain, the play would have been ruined. But there isn't.

I believe the intimate atmosphere of the Lauriston Studio is more suited than the Garrick's main stage to convey the intimate atmosphere of the salon. However, the Lauriston studio could be put to more adventurous use. So I'm glad the next production from 6th - 9th June, will feature the premier of two new one-act plays. I don't know what they are but hope they will make us go home with a head full of excitement at discovering something fresh.