By JADE GOODES
Take a trip down South, or at least as far as the O’Reilly Theater, and catch up with the denizens of Steel Magnolias. No matter how familiar you are with these women and their story, Pittsburgh Public Theater’s current production allows audiences to discover new and beautiful moments in this familiar story.
The play by Robert Harling that became the popular 1989 movie, takes place at a beauty salon in Chinquapin, Louisiana. It revolves around six women as they navigate their lives together through sharing stories, gossip and new hairdos. Annelle is new to town and takes a job at Truvy’s beauty salon, where she meets M’Lynn and her daughter, Shelby, who are busy getting ready for Shelby’s wedding. Annelle is also introduced to other regulars Clairee and Ouiser, who quickly envelop the newcomer in their friend group.
The show follows the women over the course of a few years and depicts their struggles, triumphs, hardships, and heartbreaks. We learn of Shelby’s concerning health issues with diabetes, and how she and M’Lynn struggle to deal with the restrictions and limits of her disease. Over the years, their friendship allows the women to find strength in the darkest times, and joy in the brightest times.
Truvy’s functioning beauty salon is one of the highlights of Steel Magnolias at the O’Reilly Theater. (Images: Michael Henninger for Pittsburgh Public Theater)
I assume most people, like me, have at least some familiarity with the original movie adaptation of this play. Knowing what I know, I wasn’t sure if this production would have an impact, or be able to elicit any new thoughts or emotions. Fortunately, I was proved wrong. This production was truly able to capture my heart.
These new feelings about a familiar story started with the set. Designed by Annie Mundell, it had a homey, Pioneer Woman vibe and felt nostalgic, like a flashback to simpler, childhood days.
I appreciated the functionality of the set, props and costumes. These women are actually getting their hair/wigs styled and their nails painted on stage, creating the realistic environment of a salon and inviting the audience into the action. From my seat, I felt like a fellow patron of the salon, listening to all the gossip and stories the friends had to share.
One of the delights of the play, for audiences and performers, is the six juicy parts for actresses of different generations.
The ensemble cast of Steel Magnolias deliveres beautiful performances that had me crying one moment and laughing the next. They succeed in making individual characters, along with their sisterhood and relationships, seem like the real thing.
Saige Smith brings innocence, light and joy to newcomer Annelle, while Monica Wyche delivers a stellar performance as M’Lynn, mother to Shelby (Kyra Kennedy), Mother and daughter have a tight bond that includes Shelby’s struggles with diabetes and determination to live life on her terms.
Annelle (Saige Smith), left, is a newcomer to a Louisiana beauty salon on the wedding day of Shelby (Kyra Kennedy) in Steel Magnolias.
Wyche’s performance felt grounded and truthful, while being full of heart and emotion. At one point I felt a tear running down my face during one of Wyche’s more powerful monologues.
Helena Ruoti’s performance as Ouiser is hilarious and perfectly encapsulates that grouchy, stuck-in-her-ways, heart-of-gold neighbor. The audience loved her, and, I too, adored watching her in this role.
Ouiser’s verbal sparring with everyone, particularly Elizabeth Elias Huffman’s Clairee, a wealthy widow and avowed busybody, is one of the production’s delights.
At the center of it all is the stately Robyne Parrish as salon owner Truvy, declaring she doesn’t believe in natural beauty – because if that what were the case? who would need a beauty salon? But everyone of these loyal friends needs a Truvy. Someone with an open door to a welcoming, safe space, a word to the wise and a warm hug.
One of my only complaints about the show, and the O’Reilly in general, is with the sound. My seats were fairly close to the stage, and still I found it difficult at times to hear what the actors were saying. This is only a small hiccup, and the only issue I had with this production.
Steel Magnolias is a reminder of the resilience of women, and the strong sense of community they create and share with one another.
It’s a heartwarming story that is beautifully performed, and may leave you with a tear in your eye and joy in your heart.
One of the lines that stayed with me was, “I don’t know if I’m lucky to have what I have – or lucky to know what I have.”
The play reminds us to cherish the life we have, and all the people that inhabit that life with us. This show is a meditation on friendship and the relationships we build, whether at school, work, or at the beauty salon. These bonds are what sustain us throughout the trials and tribulations of life.
So call up a loved one and head on down to Truvy’s salon to listen to some gossip, share a story or two and remember to cherish those closest to us.
Steel Magnolias continues at the O’Reilly Theater through April 9. Tickets and details: https://ppt.org/production/78800/steel-magnolias.
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