Playing at Melbourne’s Athenaeum Theatre until August 16. More information and tickets at steelmagnoliasplay.com.au
Written by Robert Harling and later adapted into an award-winning film of the same name starring Dolly Parton, Sally Field and Julia Roberts, Steel Magnolias is a dramatic comedy play set in the late 1980s in northwest Louisiana.
It centres on hair salon owner Truvy (Mandy Bishop); her mysterious new hire Annelle (Lotte Beckett); mother and daughter M’Lynn (Lisa McCune) and Shelby (Jessica Redmayne); Clairee (Tracy Mann), widow of the town’s former mayor; and local grouch, Ouiser (Belinda Giblin).
While plays set in one location can often feel stale, Steel Magnolias moves at a steady pace, helped largely by its four-act structure set across different years, Lee Lewis’s sharp direction and Simone Romaniuk’s vibrant set and costume design.
The play deals with themes of life and loss, love and friendship, and faith and spirituality, and Romaniuk’s dynamic colour palette of pinks and oranges with contrasting blues and greens in Truvy’s hair salon echoes Harling’s clever writing in balancing humour, warmth and genuine heartbreaking moments.
Being able to effortlessly keep things light and comedic during heavy, weighted moments is a testament to Harling, who used his own real-life family tragedy as inspiration. Laughter may not always be the best medicine, but Steel Magnolias proves you can get through anything with supportive friends.
Although a solid ensemble piece with well-defined characters, the standout for me was newcomer Beckett. By learning her backstory, we begin to understand why she starts off as reserved and standoffish. But by breaking down her walls with vulnerability and courage, I found her transformation inspiring. As may others who have found themselves in unsupportive, unstable and/or unsafe environments.
From naive and hopeful bride-to-be to confident young woman, Redmayne’s character objectively goes through the biggest transformation. She and McClune nail the often-complicated dynamic of when daughters grow and seek independence from their loving and protective yet controlling and over-worrying mothers. McClune does a lot of emotional lifting in her final act, and every beat is felt – and it only works due to the strong on-stage bond that she and Redmayne have created.
Giblin is also brilliant as the cranky yet lovable Ouiser, while Bishop and Mann are in fine form too getting some of the play’s best one-liners.
Having never seen the Steel Magnolias film or play, I had no idea where the story was going but it held my interest throughout its 2.5 hour run time. It also hits all the film’s memorable one-liners and remains true to the source material I was told.
Melbourne continues its run celebrating sharp, focused and outstanding female-driven productions. Steel Magnolias is perfect for those familiar with the story and those who aren’t.
4/5 STARS
TINSEL and TAP SHOES 