Steel Magnolias
Reviewed By Yasmine Ryan
The action takes place in big-haired beautician Truvy’s Louisiana salon, portrayed in a striking set designed by John
Parker, heavily infected with 1980s kitsch. This setting brings together an all-female cast of all ages. Here goings-on
in the outside world and its menfolk are verbalized and recounted, with humour aplenty in the characters’ own
observations.
The kiwi cast pull off the Southern accent better than one may have expected, with Abigail Greenwood’s Annelle a
particularly sweet and convincing Southern belle.
Truvy, played by Jacque Drew, keeps the one-liners coming and the tempo upbeat, but the other 5 women all have their
fair share of wit, thanks to playwright Robert Harling. Grumpy old Ouiser (Joy Watson) acts as a foil for the others to
bounce their gentle teasing off, and helps keep the sentimentality from becoming overwhelming: “I’m not crazy, I’ve just
been in a very bad mood for 40 years.”
The principle theme of Steel Magnolias is the trauma of losing a daughter to diabetes. Mother M’Lynn (Shortland Street’s
Donogh Rees) and daughter Shelby (Ascia Maybury) share a believable onstage bond, and Rees shines in the play’s most
intense scene.
Not exactly ground-breaking, but then it isn’t trying to be. It deserves more than the lightweight chick-something
category, however. As Truvy would say, “Never unner-estimate the parr of a woman.”
Director: Amanda Rees
Where: The Herald Theatre, City Centre, Auckland
When: until 13th February. Tuesday to Saturdays at 8pm Matinees on Saturdays at 2pm. Early show on Sundays at 4pm.