STEEL MAGNOLIAS – Written by Robert Harling; Directed by Shelly Gaza. Produced by Candlelight Dinner Playhouse (4747 Marketplace Drive, Johnstown) through November 11. Tickets available at 970-744- 3747 or ColoradoCandlelight.com.
Candlelight has broken their usual pattern of producing musicals and brought this classic straight comic script to their spacious playing space. “Why?” you ask. Well, for one thing, it probably gives them a little bit of a break in the action of not having to deal with a musical director, a choreographer, and dozens of singers/dancers/actors. It allowed them to create a platform over the pit area and transform it into a lovely, spacious beauty salon for the ladies of Chinquapin Parish, Louisiana.
While Chinquapin Parish is a fictional place, the location that inspired it is celebrated in Natchitoches, Louisiana, where Mr. Harling grew up and went to college. Truvy’s beauty parlor is based on the place where the female members of Mr. Harling’s family got their hair done and their weekly dose of gossip. Sadly, the character of Shelby is based on Mr. Harling’s sister, who passed away from complications of diabetes in 1985. He admits to being fascinated by the mocking but loving relationships between the women of his youth. He recognized that they talked like bumper stickers and that the story told is funny, until it isn’t. The authenticity is profound. As a result, it is a script that has been performed repeatedly since 1987, resonating yet today.
This cast revels in the “Bless your heart” one-liners that have earned a place in modern dialogue. “I love you more than my luggage;” “Laughing through tears is my favorite emotion;” “If you don’t have anything nice to say about anybody, come sit by me” (first said by Alice Roosevelt – Teddy’s daughter). All the ladies of this cast know how to highlight a laugh line while throwing it casually away at the same time.
The cast seems to be led by Truvy as they all come to her place of employment (a room added on to her house for her shop) to catch up and slow down. It’s easy to see why Jalyn Courtenay Webb, a familiar face around Candlelight, was chosen to play Truvy. Jalyn’s own caring personality matches Truvy’s tough exterior and marshmallow heart. She brings a joyful persona and a pile of hair into her turn as Truvy. You want a good hug, go see Jalyn.
The principal family members whose story of love and sacrifice is being told are M’Lynn and her daughter, Shelby. Over the course of four scenes, we go from the day of Shelby’s wedding to nearly four years later, after the birth of her son. The humor between all the ladies is laced with the tension between mother and daughter about the wisdom of Shelby’s pregnancy. But Shelby has absorbed the steel as well as the magnolias from this band of women and holds her own in this ongoing battle. Shelby, as created by Cate Rounds, is respectful toward her mother but determined; her signature color of all shades of pink hides a personality all her own. By the same token, Vicki White’s portrayal of M’Lynn is heartfelt and heartbreaking. She sees what might happen but can’t do anything to stop it. How many mothers do you know who have been in the same place?
The friends are a motley but delightful crew. We must start with Ouiser, a crotchety old Southern lady who puts on funny hats and grows vegetables she’s never going to eat. Abby Apple Boes brings both sides of her personality to the stage as the “couldn’t care less” smart aleck to the first to offer a helping hand when needed. While caustic to all appearances, you kind of get the feeling that she’s just kidding and knows it. Clairee represents the more sophisticated side of the Southern mentality as a wealthy widow who buys a radio station and supports the local football team. Melissa Williams as Clairee dresses just a little bit better, travels just a little more, and presents as just a little calmer most of the time. But still as funny as the rest of them. And, finally, we have Annelle, the mystery woman who just appeared one day, asking for a job who goes from nearly pathetic to professional within those four years. Nicole Harwell gives Annelle a vulnerability that is very appealing and a somewhat comical (in the eyes of the others) religious fervor. Director Shelly Gaza must have been delighted to have such a juicy bunch of ladies to bring her production to life, and what fun they must have all had in doing it.
Mike Grittner’s design for Truvy’s House of Hair is spectacular and even features, in an homage to the movie we all loved, a small picture of the original cast on a side table. The props and dressing adorning the set add to the authenticity of the picture, including the Baby Jesus Christmas tree. All were provided by Rachel Ross. Deb Faber did her usual fine job of dressing the ladies in colorful, down-home clothing of the era. All in all, a very pretty picture is presented of the place and time.
This is a good reason to go see yet another version of a classic-in-the-making performance of STEEL MAGNOLIAS. Be sure to put a leaf on the magnolia tree in the lobby for your own personal woman of steel.
A WOW factor of 8.75!!