REVIEW | Steel Magnolias, UK Tour

★ ★ ★ ★

Reviewer - Samantha

*Disclaimer: Gifted tickets in return for an honest review.

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Steel Magnolias is a hilarious and heart-warming play based on a true story, which saw huge global success in the hit 1989 film adaptation starring Dolly Parton and Julia Roberts. The show has been on quite an extensive tour around the UK and here at Theatre&Tonic, we were fortunate enough to be asked to go along to a performance in Nottingham.

As you may know, the 1989 film was based on six females that Robert Harling grew up with in Natchitoches, Louisiana. At the centre of the story, we have a mother and daughter who vaguely portray his actual mother and sister in real life. It was his sister Susan, whose story he wanted to tell, and that’s how we were graced with the character, Shelby in this show. Robert’s sister was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes at the age of 12, which gave Steel Magnolias quite the emotional hook. In the play, we follow Shelby’s adult life and the complications she faces as she’s living with type 1 diabetes – as someone who has personally lost a family member to this condition, it was extremely moving to see it being the main focus of the story. Thank you Robert and everyone involved for highlighting the complications diabetes can cause.

The play is set in a hair salon, owned by Truvy Jones and it was a really simple yet effective set-up on stage. The scenery and props replicated exactly what a salon would have looked like in the mid-1980s, this was well-researched and designed by set designer, Laura Hopkins. I haven’t seen the film, so I wasn’t entirely sure what the show was about but within minutes it was quite obvious. Friendship. 

Most of us have catch-ups with our hairdressers when we go to our appointments, but this play offered so much more than just your typical day of gossiping in the salon. The group are made up of various ages and characters – Annelle Dupuy (played by Elizabeth Ayodele), Truvy Jones (Lucy Speed), Clairee Belcher (Caroline Harker), Shelby Eatenton (Diana Vickers), M’Lynn Eatenton (Laura Main) and Ousier Boudreaux (Claire Carpenter). Each character bought something different to the stage because they are all involved in any problem that occurs. Normally group gatherings don’t take place in a hair salon but Truvy Jonesset a precedent here and it worked well. I wanted to be in that salon!

I’m a huge fan of Lucy Speed and I could not believe how much she looked and sounded like Dolly Parton. Her accent and portrayal of Dolly could not be any closer and I was in awe of Lucy. I’m so used to seeing Lucy play Stevie from The Bill on television at the weekends so the difference in characters blew me away. To be honest, I was impressed with all of the actresses for sustaining their accents throughout this production. 

I also have to add that Laura Main’s performance after Shelby’s death had audience members around me crying. It was so moving, and it did feel like we were watching a television screen because it was so perfectly executed. This was such a fine example of why we should support the arts at all times, who can just cry on stage without there being any sort of trigger and still move the audience in such ways? I can’t emphasise enough that we must support these incredibly talented individuals because we’re captivated again and again by their performances, and they should be recognised for what they do. If I met Laura in the street today, I would tell her that what she does during that scene is so realistic and she should be proud of her performance.

Another thing I felt stood out was the focus from each actress whilst they were sitting in a chair getting their hair done. Each person treated the audience like we were the mirrors they were talking into, I thought that was clever and it worked well. These sorts of actions keep us engaged because we almost feel involved in the play itself.

I know it was only a show, so everyone was acting as their character but there was genuinely a bond between all of the ladies whilst they were on stage. As they’ve been on tour since January, you can tell they’ve gelled because they all worked so well together. I left feeling like I wanted to visit Truvy’s salon and talk about my problems too. It really is a show to go and see with your mum, auntie, grandmother or any female family member and your friends because the importance of friendship shines through in Steel Magnolias.

Whether you’re looking to laugh or cry, I would definitely recommend you grab a ticket to see Steel Magnolias before the tour finishes.

• You can get your tickets for Nottingham here until 15 April, with the tour concluding in Cardiff on 22 April.