Steel Magnolias is set in the 1980s in Truvy’s hair and Beauty Salon in the fictional Parish of Chinquapin in Louisiana and features a group of friends of mixed ages who offer mutual support to each other.
The writer Robert Harling based the play on his own experiences growing up in Louisiana. The six female characters include two based on his mother and sister. Through the play, Harding tells his sister’s story who was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes at a young age.
The original play was developed into a film in 1989, two years after the Harling’s play premiered, featuring Dolly Parton, Julia Roberts, Sally Field, Daryl Hannah, Shirley Maclaine and Olympia Dukakis.
Salon owner Truvy Jones is played excellently by Lucy Speed. She is so similar to Dolly Parton in her mannerisms and Southern accent, it’s hard to believe it’s not her.
Annelle Dupuy, played by Elizabeth Ayodele, is a new employee and is just learning the ropes. In the opening scenes, we see her with Truvy, who is giving snippets of advice and making her feel at home. Annelle is going through a difficult period with her criminal husband, and the friends rally round to help her, which is one of the endearing elements of this play.
The character Shelby Eatenton, who Harling based his sister on, is played empathetically by Diana Vickers. In the opening scenes, Shelby is excited to be getting married. She does not let her diabetes diagnosis define her, and is determined to live life to the full. When she falls pregnant with her first child, she decides to have the baby despite the risks – and her mother’s warnings.
After she has the baby, Shelby decides to have her hair cut short, and is visibly upset when she sees herself in the mirror, realising that the young Shelby has gone forever.
During the play, Shelby has a diabetes attack and her mother M’Lynn Eatenton, played by Laura Main, fusses round her, but Shelby takes it all in her stride and plays down the situation.
Indeed, the play shows how these women have their fair share of adversity, but deal with it in good humour. The delivery of witty one-liners is superb throughout.
Claire Carpenter is excellent in her role as dog-owning, outspoken Ouiser Boudreaux as is Caroline Harker in the role of the wealthy and amusingly sarcastic Clairee Belcher.
The well thought out set design really makes this play work, with the audience getting an inside look into the workings of a 1980s beauty salon. The set changing perspective so the audience had a different viewpoint was really cleverly thought out and executed.
The attention to detail in this play really stood out too. The running of the salon carried on as if it was second nature – the rituals of rolling out the towels and placing across the shoulder whilst dealing with customers for example, were a really nice touch.
Even though you may have seen the film, this play is definitely one not to miss.
Steel Magnolias is at Curve until Saturday April 8.
Tickets £10-£42.50
