Sequim Gazette photo by Michael Dashiell / In back, Emily Loucks (as Annelle), left, and Rebecca Gilbert (playing Clairee) look on as Jennifer Saul (left, as Truvy) and Sunshine Petersen (as Shelby) rehearse a scene in Olympic Theatre Arts’ “Steel Magnolias” last week. The play opens March 8 for a three-weekend run.
In a prime example of art imitating life, the cast of Olympic Theatre Arts’ new production of “Steel Magnolias” is fast becoming a tight knit group as they prep for the stage a familiar and beloved story of the bonds between six women.
“The relationships is what the show is about,” said playhouse veteran Tim Thorn, who leads the production both from the director’s chair and as its set designer.“One of the big things about this show is finding humor on awkward and awful situations,” he said, noting the women find in each other the support they need but aren’t getting at home.
Written by Robert Harding in 1987, the play tells the story of Truvy, Ouiser, Shelby, M’Lynn, Annelle and Clairee, as they explore morality and the theme of “chosen family” within the confines of Truvy’s 1980s-era hair salon in Chinquapin, Louisiana.
Sequim Gazette photo by Michael Dashiell Director Tim Thorn built the set for Olympic Theatre Arts’ Steel Magnolias,” set to open on International Women’s Day on March 8.
And while it’s a film Thorn says he enjoys immensely, he wanted to make sure this cast wasn’t influencing their own takes on the characters by what is on the big screen.“When I was casting, I told them, ‘We all know the movie, it’s wonderful, but you all need to bring something to it; you can’t play an actor playing a character.’”
With a background steeped in Southern culture — both sides of his family is from the South — Thorn recently directed the Port Angeles Community Players’ production of “Savannah Sipping Society.”An Olympic Peninsula resident for three years, Thorn is making his directorial debut at OTA; he designed the set for “The Nerd” in June 2023.
“I just keep directing these shows with strong women,” he said.“I’ve watched my share of ‘Steel Magnolias’ all my life.”
Olympic Theatre Arts’ “Steel Magnolias” is set for 7 p.m. Friday and Saturday showings and 2 p.m. matinees, March 8-24, with a Free Preview Night slated for 7 p.m. on Thursday, March 7.
Fittingly, the show open’s on International Women’s Day (March 8).
Tickets are $20 for general admission and $15 for students, and are available at olympictheatrearts.org, or by calling the box office (360-683-7326) between 1-4 p.m., Tuesday through Friday.
Truvy and Clairee
Jennifer Saul portrays the wise-cracking Truvy, a beauty salon owner where the one-set play is staged.
“It’s been a favorite of mine,” said Saul, pointing to the play’s bonds between strong female leads.
“I like the connection between the women; they’re fairly realistic. They’re so comfortable with each other. They’ve got complete vulnerability around each other.”
The role is a bit of a challenge for Saul, whose Truvy is on stage for the vast majority of the play, doing hair while dispensing her lines.Jennifer Saul (as Truvy), left, and Sunshine Petersen (as Shelby) rehearse the second act of Olympic Theatre Arts’ “Steel Magnolias.”
“I don’t do my own hair, and I think I’ve done my daughter’s hair twice in 21 years,” Saul said.
Like the others in the play, Saul has to affect a Southern accent — something she looks to Thorn for: “He envisioned it’s his aunt — the way she laughs and jokes— [so] I have that to aspire to.”
No stranger to the beauty salon milieu, Rebecca Gilbert opened her own hair and nail salon in Port Angeles in August 2023.
“When this play came up,” I had a friend tell me I had to play this [part of Truvy],” Gilbert said, but Thorn had her in mind instead for Clairee, an eccentric millionaire.
Gilbert said the shop is like many small town salons. In polite conversation, three main topics should never get brought up: sex, politics and religion. And what gets talked about? Take a wild guess.
“It [this play] has got it all,” Gilbert said. “Just sayin’.”
Mother, daughter
Sunshine Petersen portrays Shelby, who’s engaged to be married, while Anna Anderson plays M’Lynn, Shelby’s mother and the town’s social leader.
The bitter-and-sweet tension between the two really makes their relationship click, Petersen said. The two can say terrible, hurtful things at times, but at the end
of the day can honestly say they love each other.
“[Shelby] wants her mom’s approval but also wants her independence,” Petersen said.
“I love the story; it’s the theme of found family,” she said. “It’s so integral in each other’s
