Wit and humour grace Steel Magnolias production
The magnolia flower symbolizes female energy and strength, purity and dignity, power and pride.Steel Magnolias is the perfect title representation of the six characters in Robert Harling’s touching friendship drama, currently being staged by Algoma Repertory Theatre and director Marc Beaudette.The six ‘steel magnolias’ in this play are gentle southern women whose outward grace belies incredible inner strength when tested by life’s most unfathomable challenges. They are diverse in personality and experience and yet their bonds with each other are unbreakable. Their resilience is the underlying theme that is celebrated throughout.
Algoma Repertory Theatre has brought together six actresses who, bless their hearts, convey authentic friendship and connection, while carving out distinct characters with distinct differences.The play is set in a beauty shop in Louisiana during the 1980s, with four scenes taking place over the span of three years. There are no male characters on stage, a departure from the successful film version from 1989 with Julia Roberts and Sally Field.
The shop is run by Truvy Jones, who believes there is no such thing as ‘natural’ beauty. Christina Foster is sarcastically joyful as the wise-cracking, romance-loving, kind shop owner who is nurturing and welcoming. Behind the pouffy hair and manicured nails is a woman who embraces everyone with warmth and without judgment.
Sandra Forsell is an anchor of the piece with her ability to express powerful emotion with such grace. As M’Lynn Eatenton, Forsell is a socially prominent mental health worker faced with heartbreaking challenges and choices. Her speech after a tragic event near the play’s end is a deeply moving expression of wide-ranging emotions in a moment of despair.Trish Rainone, as her daughter Shelby, is a sweet and spunky ray of sunshine who is not afraid of risks, despite health challenges and an over-protective mother. You can’t live a life if all you do is worry,” she contends. Rainone is a spirited Shelby, full of life and wonder and longing. Her dream is to “get old and sit on the back porch covered with grandchildren.”
Kaila O’Callaghan is comically crotchety as the beauty shop complainer Ouiser, a rich curmudgeon who loves her dog and her bad moods. Jamie Miller, as Clairee, is a bit of an eccentic social butterfly who flits about sharing wit and wisdom.
Kyla Robinson is the new shop assistant Annelle, who transforms her naïve, broken-down spirit into a confident, faith-loving being, thanks to the friendships formed with the steel magnolias in the beauty shop.The women may be getting their hair cut and coloured, but outward appearance is the last thing on their minds at Truvy’s beauty shop. As they exchange recipes, gossip and lamentations about the men in their lives they are revealing truths. They laugh, cry, feel less alone and restore their souls.
There is a lot of wit and humour and feel-good camaraderie in this play, and these actresses discover it effortlessly. There are a few moments of dialogue, however, where they could let the weight of the emotion linger a bit longer. We want to feel it all.
Steel Magnolias is being presented as a dinner theatre production at the Quattro Hotel and Conference Centre. It runs February 7 to 10.
