Madhatters Community Theatre presents ‘Steel Magnolias’
The Madhatters Community Theatre production of “Steel Magnolias” will be presented in four performances starting Thursday, Oct. 5, 2023, through Sunday at Wadena Memorial Auditorium.
The cast of Madhatters Community Theatre’s production of “Steel Magnolias” rehearse at Wadena Memorial Auditorium.The cast of Madhatters Community Theatre’s production of “Steel Magnolias” rehearse at Wadena Memorial Auditorium. From left to right: Susan Mathison-Young (standing), Michelle Curtis, Eva Labart (standing), Kristin Hergert, Michelle McCaughtry and Miranda Miller.Contributed / Bronwynn Touchette
Bronwynn Touchette of Wadena directs six area women in the production of Robert Harling’s 1987 play: Michelle Curtis, Kristin Hergert, Eva Labart, Michelle McCaughtry, Miranda Miller and Susan Mathison-Young.“It’s a brilliant show,” Touchette said. “They’re roles that actors can sink their teeth into. … It has subject matter that I feel I can tell the story of with pure emotion and bring people into the story.”
The play opens at Truvy’s in-home beauty parlor set in the fictional northwestern Louisiana parish of Chinquapin where a group of women regularly gather. They discuss Shelby’s upcoming wedding to her fiancé.“It’s a comedy and a drama,” Touchette said of the play. “These six women in the play are based on real people the playwright knew – his mother and his sister and the women that they knew.”The 50-year-old school bus driver said she has been with the community theatre for seven years and on the board for four years. She said she proposed putting on “Steel Magnolias.”
“I suggested putting on ‘Stee Magnolias’ because — as a matter of practicality — we have an issue with getting men to audition for shows,” she said of Madhatters Community Theatre. “‘Steel Magnolias’ has six women parts … and that’s how the play was written.”
Wadena man writes book on recovering from, lovely and brilliant women. But they have six different personalities,” Touchette said. “And you have to adjust your directorial style to their personalities so you’re effective.”
The play takes place during a three-year period and deals with Shelby’s diabetes and how the women deal with their conflicts as friends, not unlike the cast and how they work together.
“It’s community theater and you have to make sure that you realize that they’re doing the best that they can,” Touchette said. “They’re here for you and they want to do a great job and you’re to foster that. You are to build them up … about the great job that they’re doing.”
Mathison-Young of Nisswa plays Truvy Jones, who was played in the 1989 feature film adaptation of the play by Dolly Parton. Curtis of Wadena plays M’Lynn Eatenton, who was played in the motion picture by Sally Field.
“It’s really important that the actors and the crew and everybody who’s involved in a show feel like they’re being appreciated,” Touchette said of her directorial approach.McCaughtry of Pillager plays Louisa “Ouiser” Boudreaux, who was played in the movie by Shirley MacLaine. Miller of Wadena plays Shelby Eatenton-Latcherie, who was played in the film by Julia Robers.
“I think the movie is a very good movie,” Touchette said of the feature film adaptation of the play. “I think it hits every single emotional note that we’re trying to go for. … And I think audiences would be surprised that the play unlike the movie only takes place in the beauty parlor.”
Labart of Henning plays Annelle Dupuy-DeSoto, who was played on the big screen by Daryl Hannah. And Hergert of Wadena plays Clairee Belcher, who was played by Olympia Dukakis.
“The great thing about live theatre is you can see something multiple times, and when a different person plays the part, the story then becomes different because art is subjective and it’s all a matter of interpretation,” Touchette said.
