Steel Magnolias
by Robert Harling
directed by Mike Thorne & Nevin Ward

“Steel Magnolias” is based on a true incident in the life of Harling’s mother and sister. The magnolia is the state flower of Louisiana and neighbouring Mississippi, and the play’s title reflects the beauty, grace and charm as well as resourcefulness and inner strength, which are the virtues cultivated by women of the Southern states. This play for six women is set in Truvy’s Beauty Salon, somewhere in Louisiana. The astute, but sympathetic Truvy, with the help of Annelle, her eager, naive assistant, dispenses shampoo with liberal doses of free advice and gossip to her regular customers:- Ouiser, the town’s acerbic, wealthy curmudgeon; Miss Clairee, eccentric millionaire, widow of the former mayor; M’Lynn, socially prominent, career social worker, whose daughter, Shelby, is on the verge of marriage. Alternately hilarious and touching, the play focuses on the camaraderie of these six Southern women who chit-chat, needle and harangue each other through the best of times… and cry, comfort and repair one another through the worst. They’re soul mates in a rarefied way that assumes a cult of femininity… sisters come hell and high water. Pushing laughter and pain together “Steel Magnolias” pulls tears from even the most cynical eyes. The women at Truvy’s beauty parlour are the steel magnolias of the title: Southern belles; flowery on the outside, but strong enough inside to survive any challenge, many of which are presented through the course of the narrative.

Annette Neilsen, Yvonne LeMare, Wahneta Thorne, Debbie Forsythe

Christine Ward, Wahneta Thorne, Jo Jefferson, Yvonne LeMare, Sue Hill (technical advisor), Debbie Forsythe, Annette Neilsen.

There are loads of memorable lines in this play: listen out for this sample batch:- Truvy: When it comes to pain and suffering, she’s right up there with Elizabeth Taylor Annelle: Miss Truvy, I promise that my personal tragedy will not interfere with my ability to do good hair Ouiser: I’m not crazy, I’ve just been in a very bad mood for the last 40 years! Clairee: The only thing that separates us from the animals is our ability to accessorise Shelby: I would rather have thirty minutes of wonderful than a lifetime of nothing special M’Lynn: (With reference to the phone ringing) I’ll bet that’s for me. It’s probably my mind trying to locate my body. “Steel Magnolias” can be seen at Pateley Bridge Playhouse at 7.30pm Monday 22nd to Saturday 27th April. Tickets cost £5.00 each - please telephone the Box Office on 07816 961854, between 10 - 12 in the morning, and 4 - 6 in the afternoon.

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