Review of the Newtowne Players at Three Notch Theatre's Production of STEEL MAGNOLIAS

Review of the Newtowne Players at Three Notch Theatre's production of STEEL MAGNOLIAS

Posted by TBN On 09/17/2012

STEEL MAGNOLIAS, by Robert Harling, will run at the Three Notch Theatre in Lexington Park from September 21 through October 7. Veteran Newtowne Theatre Players director Kerry Robinson was coaxed out of semi-retirement to assemble a stellar cast to bring to life this story of six gossip-loving Southern ladies in a Chinquapin Parish, Louisiana beauty parlor. The plot twists range from being hysterically funny to heartbreakingly sad, and it’s almost guaranteed that there will not be a dry eye in the audience by the play’s end. The Hollywood version starred Shirley MacLaine and Dolly Parton, along with Sally Field and Julia Roberts as the mother-daughter team. Mr. Robinson had wisely decided to create real-life characters instead of having his actresses imitate Hollywood mega-stars in this production.

The dress rehearsal which I attended began with greetings from the Director who advised that things might not be quite perfect on this particular night, as opening night was still a week away, and perhaps not everything was working smoothly, as yet. But the evening ran almost flawlessly including the gunshots, telephone cues, Christmas tree lights, radio announcements, and on-stage shampoos!

Act I opens in springtime with a busy day in the beauty shop as Annelle (the bubbly and adorable Emily Funderburk, who will be remembered for her scene-stealing role in last year’s NTP production of The Man Who Came to Dinner) is being hired by Truvy (NTP veteran Stacy Oosterink in a dynamic performance here), owner of the shop. Today is a big day in town: Shelby’s coming in (she’s the daughter of one of the “regulars”, M’Lynn,) to have her hair done on her wedding day. We get hints here in the very beginning that Annelle may have a “past” – teasing us with the implication of more to come. Sounds of occasional gunshots are heard throughout this opening scene…also teasing us for more to come! The soft-spoken, demure Clairee (Linda Lagle , remembered for her back-breaking role in NTP’s production of Neil Simon’s Rumors) enters – she is the wife of the belated former mayor. And then Shelby (Rebecca Raymond) enters in curlers, followed shortly by her mother, M’Lynn (Dawn Weber, another NTP veteran and a well-deserved recipient of NTP Best Actress and Best Supporting Actress awards for previous roles). The mother-of-the-bride proceeds to decree just how Shelby should wear her hair on this most important day. Shelby recounts how she first met her beloved Jackson and describes how the wedding will boast nine bridesmaids. There will be magnolia blossoms floating in the pool. And while she speaks, Ms. Raymond fixes her electrifying blue eyes on the invisible mirror in front of her with quiet intensity. The women in the shop rise to the occasion just a few minutes later when Shelby experiences an insulin imbalance episode in the midst of having Truvy style her hair.

Ouiser (the unquestiona

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