The toughness of steel and the delicateness of flowers, like the oxymoronic title, Steel Magnolias provides a balance of humor and tragedy.
An inner strength
The play is performed entirely on one set, a Louisiana beauty parlor. Outspoken Truvy, and her assistant Annelle, run the salon where millionaire Miss Clairee, crotchety Ouiser, social leader M’Lynn, and the soon-to-be married Shelby gather. The story begins full of humor and banter, but as the play develops and the years go by, the women are faced with tragedy. Shelby, encounters a diabetes pregnancy risk that eventually leads to her death. The women overcome this loss together with self discovery, inner strength and love.
Larry Farley, director of this Village Players’ production, describes the story as one that allows audiences to connect with these women and understand their relationship. “Our knowledge of who they are and how they react to each other in daily situations prepares us and them for the play’s
penultimate scene.”
“The need for human interaction”
Based on playwright Robert Harling’s own experience with the death of his sister from Type 1 diabetes, Steel Magnolias was written to show the use of humor for coping with tragedy. The play, due to its balance of joy and sorrow, was later adapted into the
well known film.
Differences between the stage version and the film adaptation, Farley explains, are “that the play has just six characters on stage and alludes to others in the dialogue. It also takes place entirely in Truvy’s beauty shop.” However, the emotions and storyline are the same. According to Farley, “It is a play that evokes what friendship and the need for human interaction means for the soul…These women show compassion for their friend in her time of need, in their own way. As Truvy says, ‘Laughter through tears is my favorite emotion’.”
And Truvy’s favorite emotion may be one that many audiences experience with this powerful production. An emotional journey, Steel Magnolias shows the beauty of friendship and that
laughter can be the best medicine.
Steel Magnolias runs weekends of March 4-19 at 8pm, 2pm matinee on March 13
$16-$18
The Toledo Village Players,
2740 Upton Ave
419-472-6817 | thevillageplayers.org
