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Austin360 blogs > Austin Arts: Seeing Things > Archives > 2010 > December > 14 > Entry
Review: ‘Steel Magnolias’
As any hairdresser can tell you, highlighting is about creating contrast. The bright pieces stand out against the darker background, but each piece flows together, creating a smooth and supple whole.
“Steel Magnolias,” the play by Robert Harling, highlights women’s strength in adversity without resorting to man-bashing. The women are contrasted against each other, and in City Theatre’s production of “Steel Magnolias” playing through this weekend, every one of the women possesses a unique kind of courage, illustrating the power of female love and support.
The action all takes place in Truvy’s (Virginia Pratt) hair salon in Chinquapin, Louisiana, following the lives of six women over a two and a half year period. It opens on the morning before the wedding of the prettiest girl in town, Shelby (Akasha Banks Villalobos), and Truvy has just hired Annelle (Jessica Loyd), a young woman whose husband has deserted her. Shelby’s mother, M’Lynn (Annie Dragoo) and the two town biddies (Ellen Massey and Melita McAtee) round out the scene.
Shelby is a loving and determined young woman, who wants a family more than anything, and neither doctor’s advice nor her diabetic condition will stop her. The show follows Shelby’s marriage, motherhood, and ill health, as it all plays out in the hair salon.
Director Barry Pineo’s handling of the salon atmosphere is convivial, and it’s fun to watch the actresses styling each others’ hair. Pineo’s addition of an opening role call and a character-introduced intermission, however, are unnecessary and distracting. The blocking is similarly awkward and unfortunate. The stage pictures are often crowded with characters all clumped together, or, more distressingly, the actors have their backs to the audience during emotional moments.
The sound design is ineffective and implausible, making it difficult for the actors to build tension around the gunshots and barking dog. Meredith Payne’s lighting is overly dim in the second scene and casts unflattering shadows on the manicure table.
While the actors are working hard to maintain Louisiana accents, this often results in problems with comedic timing, and the emphasis can end up on the wrong word.
As Clairee and Ouiser, however, Ellen Massey and Melita McAtee handle their parts with aplomb, and bring energy and humor to their scenes.
Despite the production’s flaws, “Steel Magnolias” is a touching and sad story that highlights the strength of female solidarity and affection.
‘Steel Magnolias’ continues at 8 p.m. Thursday-Saturday and 5:30 p.m. $15-$20. City Theatre, 3823 Airport Blvd. www.citytheatreaustin.org
Cate Blouke is an American-Statesman freelance arts critic.
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