WILLIAMSVILLE-Rock River Players present Robert Harling's Steel Magnolias on Fridays and Saturdays, Aug. 9, 10, 16, and 17, at 7 p.m. and Sundays, Aug. 11 and 18, at 2 p.m. at Williamsville Hall, 35 Dover Rd.
Based on Harling's experience with his own sister's death, the 1987 play is about the bond among a group of Southern women in northwest Louisiana. The title suggests the "female characters are as delicate as magnolias but as tough as steel."
According to stageagent.com, the play's story is: "Truvy Jones runs a successful beauty salon in Chinquapin, Louisiana, where all the ladies in the neighborhood have a standing Saturday appointment. Along with her anxious and eager assistant, Annelle, Truvy styles the hair of many of the women about town: wealthy widow and former first lady of Chinquapin, Clairee Belcher; local curmudgeon Ouiser Boudreaux [...]; intelligent and compassionate career woman M'Lynn, and her daughter Shelby, the prettiest girl in town.
"Shelby's engagement is the talk of the town, but the joy and excitement of her wedding quickly turn to concern as she faces a risky pregnancy and a myriad of health complications. Eventually, M'Lynn has to deal with the most difficult of life's challenges. As the women of Chinquapin make their ways over life's many hurdles together, they find comfort (and a fair amount of verbal ribbing) in one another."
"You have no idea how wonderful you are," M'Lynn tells the ladies at the end of the play. Truvy responds, with a smile, "Of course we do." The sudden realization of their mortality draws on the underlying strength and love that the characters share through good times and bad.
"It's obviously a play about women's power, which is important in this time," said director Cris Parker Jennings. "It's not just about friendship; it's a story of trust, commitment, what makes women so powerful. It's a story of vulnerability, empowerment, forgiveness. What we are creating here is … it's magic," she adds alluding to the degree to which the cast has bonded and coalesced. This has been the most amazing group I've ever worked with."
Rock River Players' Steel Magnolias company includes Melanie Keiser, Maureen "Mo" Hart, Charlene Kennedy, Nicole Winot, Amy Donahue, and Susan Boyd Joyce. Shey Nessralla is assistant director and set designer/builder; Jess Guerrero is tech coordinator and sound/light crew; Nathan Haugh, technical prop effects; Amy Donahue, light and sound design; graphic design, set decoration - all with Parker-Jennings.
Tickets are $15, general admission; $12 for students and seniors, and are available at the door or online at rockriverplayers.org. For more information, email [email protected].
This Arts item was submitted to The Commons.