Reviews – Steel Magnolias

The Fine Times Recorder – Gay Pirrie-Weir:

ROBERT Harling’s family-inspired play Steel Magnolias was first performed 35 years ago, since when it has become a regular choice on stages across the English-speaking world. Many people know it from the classic 1989 film, and its popularity crosses professional and amateur productions. But it’s not all plain sailing – the professional national tour that came to Bath earlier this year was abruptly halted in its tracks a fortnight later, and questions must have been asked about the play’s continuing appeal.

Anthony von Roretz and the Salisbury Studio Theatre company have neatly knocked those questions on the head with the current production, on at their Ashley Road HQ from 10th to 15th July. The sensitive and attentive reading of Harling’s words – first intended as a tragedy commemorating the short life of his sister, but turned by the laughter of the audience into a bitter-sweet comedy – brought new and tough tenderness to the story.

It is set in Harling’s childhood home, Natchitoches, and for this production Studio newcomer Jemma Clark not only designed and dressed the set but painted a backdrop for the central window which authentically captures the Louisiana countryside outside Truvy’s beauty salon.

The unique selling points of this production are that mother and daughter Jenny and Liv Wordley play Truvy (the Dolly Parton character) and her new assistant Annelle, and that there is a much more spiky and realistic relationship between M’Lynne and her daughter Shelby, dissipating the rather sentimental approach taken by Sally Field and Julia Roberts in the award-winning film.

One of the dangers of an all-female cast is that high and light voices can become monotonous, and here not only do the actors have to avoid that pit, but also to maintain a Deep Southern accent. The six Steel Magnolias do it magnificently – their accents are SO MUCH BETTER than those striven-for-but-missed in the earlier professional tour. Just like Shelby, Robert Harling’s sister Susan died of complications from Type I Diabetes, just after giving birth to a son. Harling, then an actor in New York, wrote the play as a way to tell the child (when he was old enough) about his mother.

So it is deeply felt and deserves its reputation as a three-hanky weepie. In this Salisbury production the keeper of the Kleenex is Samantha Luckman’s M’Lynne. This is a magnificent performance, full of passion and humour, pathos and anger, determination and resignation.

The characterisation is brilliantly balanced by those of the widowed socialite Clairee (Caroline Butcher) and the neighbourhood grouch and old-southern-woman-who-grows-tomatoes Ouiser (Sue Tranter), as well as Jenny Wordley’s witty and wise Truvy and Liv Wordley’s timid, to be born again Annelle. Newcomer Lynnette Barnes has the difficult role of the headstrong Shelby, whose pinkness is the colour-wash of the show.

You might think you know Steel Magnolias – I did, after almost a dozen productions and a visit to the Louisiana setting – but you’ll find new jewels and nuances in this exceptional production. If you don’t know it, now’s the time to discover this heart-warming play.

http://www.theftr.co.uk/steel-magnolias-studio-theatre-salisbury/

Salisbury Journal – Annette J Beveridge

THEATRE-goers were treated to an evening of entertainment on the opening night of Steel Magnolias, the latest play from the Studio Theatre.

With so much dialogue in the script, the performance is all about each actor’s interpretation and abilities. From perfecting an American drawl to delivering cheeky lines, the cast brought the heart and soul of a fictional town in America to life portraying the lives of six inextricably linked women. 

With just one set, the play centres on Truvy’s (Jenny Wordley) salon where a group of women congregate to gossip, and reminisce as they receive their regular pampering treatments.

Perfect timing of amusing one-liners had the audience members laughing out loud, but beneath the humour, the sarcasm and taunts, the audience glimpses the deep friendship that ties them together. 

Truvy employs Annelle (Liv Wordley) a young girl with a past. Annelle has a mystery, a secret that she wants to keep to herself but Truvy is experiencing the ’empty-nest’ syndrome and brings Annelle into the fold.  

It doesn’t take long before Truvy and the regulars get to the truth.

At the heart of the story, are M’Lynn (Samantha Luckman) and her daughter Shelby, (Lynnette Barns). Shelby is getting married. It’s a time of joy and she’s so in love despite the cynism of the older women, whose memories of love and romance are somewhat tainted by real life.

With gunshots ringing out, (a never-seen husband intent on blasting all life with his gun) and Ouiser’s beloved dog feared to be on its last legs, the story unfolds and wedding joy turns to fear. 

Shelby is unwell. She has Type 1 diabetes and has been told to not have a baby, as there’s too many risks. She talks about fostering a child, but deep down, that need overrides commonsense and this leads to conflict and heart-wrenching decisions. 

This performance of Steel Magnolias is gripping from start to finish. Prepare for pure entertainment and laughter but bring a tissue. 

Four Stars

https://www.salisburyjoural.co.uk/leisure/salisburyartsfestival/23648567.studio-theatre-actors-pull-stops-steele-magnolias/

Chris Hawley

To my shame, I came to this show not knowing the story at all. I was aware it was set in America’s deep south and the cast was made up primarily of women but I’d somehow missed the film and any stage productions so what unfolded, I’m glad to say, was a very funny and often disarming evening’s entertainment.

For those of you, like me who’ve let this one pass them by, Steel Magnolias tells the story of a disparate group of southern women and the bonds that tie them together. Set in the hairdressers of a small Louisiana town , run by the Dolly Parton wannabe, Truvy (Jenny Wordley), the six women let us glimpse into their lives and what it means to be part of a small yet tight community.

Based on the real life story of Robert Harling’s sister, the script is at times uproariously funny; the ladies often resorting to what Harling describes as talking in bumper stickers, but also extraordinarily moving and poignant.

The cast, on the whole, were on point, (although at times a few fist night nerves were on display, but we can certainly forgive that). We were totally invested in their day to day lives, the ups and downs of getting older, the excitement of an imminent wedding, the concerns for the birth of a new child, and of course the tragedy that affects the whole community as the play unfolds.

This is very much an ensemble piece but I have to mention a couple of outstanding performances. Firstly Liv Wordley, who plays Annelle, the born again Christian with a big secret. For such a young actor she approached the part with great clarity and depth and will definitely be one to watch out for in future Studio productions.  But it was the relationship between mother and daughter, M’Lynn (Samantha Luckman) and Shelby (Lynette Barnes), that really warmed the cockles. Lynette embraced the constant positivity of the ever pink Shelby without ever making the character superficial or shallow. But for me it was Sam’s portrayal of her mother, wracked with deep concern and love for her daughter that really tugged at the heartstrings. Beautifully observed, never overplayed and hitting all the right notes throughout, this was an outstanding performance in a production full of notable performances.

Once again, hats off to the design and tech teams who brought us into that small town beauty salon, with country music playing on the radio and linoleum on the floor. It gave just the right atmosphere for this wonderfully moving show.

It could be said there’s not much of a narrative in this play but that doesn’t matter. It’s the characters and their individual stories we care about and these six women brought those characters to life magnificently. Yes, perhaps the accents wandered at times and the set changes could’ve been thought about more and been a bit slicker but all in all this was very enjoyable production. Harling said he wrote the play so that people would remember his sister and I think Studio have done a sterling job to help make that happen.

Three Stars

https://uktheatre.mn.co/posts/steel-magnolias