Steel Magnolias by Robert Harling


I attended Steel Magnolias by Robert Harling today.

I went to see Steel Magnolias at Sweet Briar College today. This is Anne Mohana's senior project, and she did a good job with it. Anne is from Louisiana, and she did a lot of research in the area it is set in, and was careful to choose music appropriate to the area and time period. She got a terrific performance from Erin Coleman as M'Lynn. She had that woman down from the moment she walked in, and it is not an easy role to play. Rosanna Hawkins was also quite good as Truvy.
Anne has a good eye for detail, and she converted the studio theatre to a salon - the audience entered through the set. She had borrowed two salon chairs, and built a sink on the set as well.
I have seen this play twice - the original off-Broadway production some time in the 80's, and it was done once before at Sweet Briar as a student production, but I am chagrined to say I don't remember much about that production. The play has humor, and does make an in interesting statement about southern culture - how the women who appear to be gentle are really very strong. Ultimately, it is too sentimental to be exactly my taste, but yes, even I had a moistened eye.
Nancy and I went with Walter and Karen - they knew the movie well but had never seen the play. I think the audience was quite moved.

Posted: Fri - February 13, 2004 at 08:03 PM          

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