Steel Magnolias Review, Pennsylvania Playhouse
Written by Susan Burnett
In case you were worried that this production would not stand up to the original movie, produced in 1989 (30 years ago), you needn’t.
Gary Boyer’s (Director) production is steeped in southern sass and charm from the very beginning to very last word.
Robert Harling (playwright) wrote 'Steel Magnolias' based on the real-life experiences of his sister who passed away from diabetic complications after the birth of her child.
Shortly after the play was a huge success on Broadway (1987), ii was made into a movie with an all-star cast (1989).
The play follows the lives of six unique southern women who meet up every Saturday morning at Truvy’s Beauty Shop to gossip and insult each other.
The play opens on the morning of Shelby’s wedding.
Tracey DeMaria plays Truvy with tremendous warmth, love and confidence. She is the “den mother” that keeps the group together while she herself struggles with family issues which she never lets get in the way. She offers top notch hair styling and advice all at the same time.
And how she delivers her lines, while actually doing Shelby’s hair I will never know!
At the top of the show, Truvy hires Annelle, played by Danielle Tampier, a newcomer and lost soul. Danielle is a perfect delight in her role as the shy, young Annelle who later finds love, religion and her strength and tries to save the souls of the others, with some success.
Danielle plays the contrast to the other characters like a seasoned pro.
Clairee, played by Carole Silvoy, is the wealthy widow, former mayor’s wife and a kind hearted friend I would always want to have. She is the perfect ballast to Ouiser, played with perfect comedic genius by Vicky Montesano. These two women clearly love each other and clearly love to torture each other at the same time.
They are the quintessential “scene stealers” every play needs to have. You do not want to miss a word when either of them speaks.
Shelby, played by Stephanie Walsh, is the most adorable southern belle, beautiful, charming but at the same time, fiercely independent. Stephanie does a magnificent job of walking that fine line of playing a delicate yet strong young woman, dealing with so many issues.
Her humor will have you laughing out loud while scenes with her illness are heartbreaking.
Shelby’s mother, M’Lynn, is played by Syd Stauffer. Syd is a well-known comedic actress in the Lehigh Valley but her performance here as the mother of a chronically ill child is stunning.
Her graceful transitions from sarcasm to anger to love to despair are truly remarkable.
I would be remiss in not mentioning the impressive set, and lighting, designed by Brett Oliveira and Kristen Wettstein, which is a delightful beauty salon. You could see outside the salon and even included a broken radio which flipped on if you hit it hard enough.
The cast has tremendous chemistry. It seems like they have all been friends for years and you feel, as you leave the theatre that next Saturday, they will be back there, all getting their hair and nails done. A true testament to Boyer’s directing.
"Steel Magnolias" runs 7:30 p.m. April 5-6; 12-13 and 19-20 and 3 p.m. April 7 and 14 at Pennsylvania Playhouse, 390 Illick's Mill Road, Bethlehem.
For information, call 610-865-6665, or go to www.paplayhouse.org.