Spicy, Homespun Humor

Steel Magnolias – BrightSide Theatre

In 1985, New York actor Robert Harling was devastated to learn of the sudden death of his beloved younger sister to kidney failure. Because of her Type 1 diabetes, Susan had been warned that having a child would likely be dangerous to her health. However, she ignored her physician’s advice, gave birth and died before her son reached school age. 

The actor’s friend suggested that he might ease some of his sorrow by expressing his feelings in a short story. He did this, and then took it a step further by turning the story into a play. The affectionate, comic drama, which featured an all-female cast, opened Off Broadway in 1987, where it ran for three years; the play later launched a National Tour and ultimately moved to Broadway in 2005. The show became an international hit, as well. Eventually Harling adapted his play for the silver screen. The popular film featured an all-star cast, which included Dolly Parton, Sally Field, Shirley MacLaine, Olympia Dukakis, Daryl Hannah and a young Julia Roberts (who was nominated for an Academy Award).

BrightSide Theatre continues its ninth season with this much-welcomed contemporary American classic that’s been a staple of regional, educational and community theatres for over three decades. There’s a good reason for the popularity of Robert Harling’s biographical smash hit. The play is both funny and touching and, more importantly, offers something rarely seen on stage or screen anymore. This comedy is a refreshingly positive break from the churlish, cynical entertainments of today. The play captures the 1980’s, a time, not that long ago, when people treated each other with respect. Despite differing opinions, the six women in Harling’s play care about and actually listen to each other. Their opinions, as well as their bond is strong, like steel; yet these Southern women are always ladies, with a gentle, feminine side, much like a magnolia. The empathetic relationship we see between these characters provides an invaluable lesson for the twenty-first century.    

The play is set in the fictional Parish of Chinquapin, Louisiana. It takes place inside Truvy’s Beauty Spot, a rural hair salon, that her husband built for her in the carport. It opens on Shelby’s wedding day, and the blushing, young bride-to-be eagerly arrives at the salon to have her hair styled like Grace Kelly. Truvy has just hired a mousey, new-girl-in-town named Annelle to assist her. Clairee, the town’s former First Lady, arrives with recipes to trade and gossip to share. Soon Shelby’s cautiously overprotective, loving mama, M’Lynn, drops in to be turned into a radiant Mother of the Bride. Eventually Ouiser, the town curmudgeon, M’Lynn’s next door neighbor and Clairee’s best friend, shows up to complain about everything in her life.
Harling’s play progresses from Spring to Christmas, through the next June and, finally, to the following November. During the course of the story, which is essentially a cheerful, charming and caring portrait of six small town Southern women, we track Shelby’s journey from eager, young bride to tragic victim of diabetes. Shelby is Robert Harling’s fictional version of his sister, Susan, and M’Lynn is based on his own selfless mother. The playwright has created half a dozen other memorable, often hilarious and occasionally bawdy characters, undoubtedly based upon real people in his life. 

Collectively and individually the ladies spout some of the funniest dialogue ever heard onstage, dozens of lines that have become comic classics. Ouiser shouts, “I’m not crazy. I’ve just been in a very bad mood for 40 years!” Truvy observes, “Sammy’s so confused he don’t know whether to scratch his watch or wind his butt.” And Clairee’s pronouncement that “The only thing that separates us from the animals is the ability to accessorize” ranks up there with her declaration that “If you can’t say anything nice about anybody, come sit by me.”

Guided with more sugar and spice than a serving of sweet tea and barbecued pork, guest Director Stephanie Murphy nicely leads her talented six actresses through this honeyed, homey two-act comic drama. Southern charm radiates throughout this production, thanks to her captivating cast of actors. First seen at BrightSide Theatre four years ago in “Not Now, Darling!” Gina Phillips plays affable Beauty Spot owner, Truvy. She is sheer perfection as the charming character who keeps everyone around her in motion. Truvy opens the play with gentle authority, kindly cajoling her friends with humor and charisma, continuing to guide them through their various trials and tribulations. In this role, Gina is warm, witty and full of Louisiana wisdom—the perfect Southern hostess.

While over half the cast make their debuts on the BrightSide stage, Patty Kirin, who beautifully portrays Clairee, will be fondly remembered for her terrific performance in last season’s “Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike.” This versatile, accomplished actress also appeared recently in BrightSide’s concert production of “Nine,” and will hopefully become a regular at this theatre. Quietly tossing zingers at her friends, like barbed confetti, Ms. Kirin is both genuine and genteel in her portrayal. Sometimes, unfortunately, the actress swallows her words amid her lovely Southern dialect, making her character a little difficult to understand, but this can be easily corrected. Patty Kirin stands out as one of the strongest characters in this production.

As Shelby, lovely Alexandra T. Cross makes her BrightSide debut in a role that suits this young actress. Funny, feisty and filled with a lust for life, Shelby is one courageous young woman. Played by Ms. Cross with candor and straightforward tenacity, this actress creates a steel magnolia who’s ready to bloom. As M’Lynne, Shelby’s strong, selfless mother, Lori Rohr  also appears on the BrightSide stage for the first time. The actress deftly delivers a subtly nuanced performance that’s precisely what the playwright envisioned. Ms. Rohr gently displays her own brand of steel. In the hands of Lori Rohr, this magnolia is quietly chivalrous and lovingly generous, almost to a fault. It isn’t until the final scene, however, when audiences will finally see how this strong and brave woman has been, holding everything inside for so long. It’s a bravado performance that audiences will long remember.
 Kim White debuts with this Naperville company as peevish, prickly Ouiser. Playing this crotchety, yet comic character, Ms. White is certainly a comic treasure, although sometimes her histrionics border on overacting. She might want to dial it back, just a bit. Because Ouiser is the character who infuses this sweet production with some much-relished notes of vinegar and bitter pessimism, the audience also needs to believe her. Right now, Kimmy White, while creating a promising first impression,  goes a little overboard until the final scene. 

Marie Claire Lyon also launches her BrightSide career in the role of Annelle. At first, Annelle’s a shy, eager-to-please newcomer to the small community; but, by the end of the play, she’s nicely settled in, and has become a respected young, devoutly Christian woman, able to offer her own brand of wisdom and comfort to her new friends.

The only problem with this production is purely technical. Between scenes, the audience sits in near darkness far too long while waiting for the actors to change costumes. With nothing happening on stage to occupy the theatergoers’ attention, except the generic music from Ed Green’s sound design, a few minutes tend to feel much longer. Brandon Lewis’ economic scenic design looks appropriately like a beauty parlor that’s been jammed into a tiny garage. The acting area adequately provides the communal closeness that this story demands. It’s both period-perfect and incredibly detailed, in part thanks to Jim Heatherly’s excellent properties design. Shana Hall’s costumes and wigs also add the right touch this for time and place. And Brandon Lewis pulls it altogether with a lighting plot that invitingly illuminates the playing area and is spot-on. 

Being over 30 years old, it’s a testimony to Robert Harling’s playwriting genius that his comic drama has withstood the test of time. Now practically a period piece, this play continues to charm and amuse contemporary audiences with its spicy, homespun humor and gentle, genuine characters. But it’s the far-reaching friendships that really make this play hum because they feel honest and kindhearted. This is the world theatergoers are nostalgic for today, and Director Stephanie Murphy and her talented cast have smartly made this element the heart of their production.

Recommended

Reviewed by Colin Douglas                   

Presented March 6-22 by BrightSide Theatre, at Meiley-Swallow Hall at North Central College, 31 S. Ellsworth St., Naperville, IL.

Tickets are available in person at the box office, by calling 630-447-8497 or by going to www.brightsidetheatre.com.

Additional information about this and other area productions can be found by visiting www.theatreinchicago.com.