Theater Review
“There is no such thing as natural beauty.” That’s the motto at Truvy’s Beauty Salon in Chinquapin, Louisiana, the small-town setting of Robert Harling’s “Steel Magnolias.” The story tells of a closely-knit group of six women’lively, quirky and lovable characters made famous by the actresses who played them in the 1989 film. It’s hard to imagine a cast that could perform these roles with the chemistry created by Sally Field, Dolly Parton, Shirley MacLaine, Daryl Hannah, Olympia Dukakis and Julia Roberts. However, the play version of “Steel Magnolias” allows the characters to develop and their relationships to be manifest more quickly and intensely by omitting the male roles and staging all of the action in the beauty parlor. The scenes and quotable lines we remember from the movie are cleverly condensed into this sacred female space of comfort, gossip and friendship. In the Santa Monica Theatre Guild production at the Morgan-Wixson Theatre, the sisterhood between these strong-minded southern ladies is refreshingly natural. Under the direction of Sherry Coon, the actresses perform the memorable roles with great energy, clearly inspired by the film’s classic performances but also bringing their own vision to the stage. Jennifer Ruckman is delightful as the sweet and strong-willed Shelby, who is determined to have a baby despite doctor’s orders that she shouldn’t, because of her diabetic condition. Ruckman accentuates Shelby’s tomboyishness and her zest for life. Shelby’s mother M’Lynn (Jaimie Keppel) is visibly torn over her daughter’s decision and needs all the support she can get from her closest friends. They give M’Lynn strength with a generous dose of humor. The mother-daughter relationship created by Ruckman and Keppel is convincing’their characters’ love for each other felt in their intense disagreements on everything from Shelby’s wedding colors to her health issues. The ensemble transitions smoothly between the light, playful banter and more delicate, somber scenes like the moment Shelby experiences “insulin shock,” or M’Lynn’s emotional collapse. These are real southern ladies’strong and vulnerable at the same time. They are not afraid to cry or raise their voices, and what keeps them going is a sharp sense of humor and the ability to laugh at themselves and one another. Clairee (Mary Beth Pape) has some of the best lines and Pape delivers them well. “If you can’t find anything good to say about anybody, come sit by me,” she says in a delicate southern drawl. Ouiser (Joanna Churgin) is the butt of so many jokes, but only because she can take them. Churgin, a petite woman, is a little more feminine than Shirley MacLaine’s crude, overall-clad Ouiser but she has no problem playing the loud and cynical character who claims, “I’m not crazy, I’ve just been in a really bad mood for 40 years.” Closely observing the dynamic network of ladies is Annelle (Kimberly Paris), a young woman about Shelby’s age who Truvy hires as her new assistant in the beauty salon. Annelle is from out of town, which is about as mysterious as you can be in Chinquapin. Paris is good as the bright-eyed and bushy-tailed Annelle, emphasizing her shy character’s awkwardness in Act 1. She makes it interesting to watch Annelle’s transformation into a confident woman and overzealous Christian as the play progresses. Though most of these actresses seem to be younger than the roles they play, they fit the shoes well, especially Jana Bozeman in the role of Truvy. She crafts a thick southern accent to match her big hair and brightly colored 1980s-style outfits (costume and hair design by Anne Gesling), and is believable as the easygoing and gentle motherly type who takes Annelle under her wing. The beauty-parlor gossip is fast-paced but the actresses make it easy to follow and understand. However, the background music at the beginning of Act 2 is too loud and takes away from the dialogue. The set design (by Thomas A. Brown) creates just the right cozy, lived-in feel of a beauty salon carved out of someone’s home or, in this case, carport. The pastel-colored walls are covered with picture frames and decorations, and it’s a truly workable space where the actresses actually style each other’s hair on stage. The show, produced by Anne Gesling and Larry Gesling, runs through April 8 at the Morgan-Wixson, 2627 Pico Blvd. Performances are Fridays and Saturdays at 8 p.m. and Sundays at 2 p.m. For tickets ($18 general admission; $15 seniors and students), call 828-7519.
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