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Steel Magnolias" the stage play by Robert Harling was wowing audiences before the movie starring Julia Roberts, Sally Field, Dolly Parton, Daryl Hannah, Olympia Dukakis, and Shirley MacLaine was made.
The movie might be known as a chick flick, but cast member Lise Alexander said people should know the stage version of "Steel Magnolias" is not really for a specific gender.
"Men might get dragged here, but by the time the play is over, they will be really glad they came," said Alexander who plays M’Lynn Eatenton the mother made famous in the movie by actress Sally Field.
Rachael Lindey the director of this production said ‘men and women will prefer the play to the movie because of the true personal connection made with the audiences in a live performance setting."
Playwright and screenwriter Robert Harling wrote "Steel Magnolias" in 10 days in memory of his sister who died after a difficult pregnancy. He wrote it so his nephew could know his mother.
The play follows three generations of southern women who regularly gather at Truvy's Beauty Salon for updos, friendship and to catch up on the latest small town gossip of Chinquapin, Louisiana. Outspoken and wise-cracking Truvy helped by her eager new assistant, Annelle (who is not sure whether or not she is still married), the outspoken, wise-cracking Truvy dispenses free advice and the secrets to true beauty to the town's rich curmudgeon, Ouiser, ("I'm not crazy, I've just been in a bad mood for forty years"); an eccentric millionaire, Miss Clairee, who has a raging sweet tooth; and the local social leader, M'Lynn, whose daughter, Shelby (the prettiest girl in town), is about to marry a "good ole boy." Filled with hilarious repartee and humorously revealing verbal collisions, the play moves toward tragedy when, in the second act, the spunky Shelby (who is a diabetic) risks pregnancy and forfeits her life. The death affects them all, but also draws on the underlying strength and love, which gives the play, and its characters, that special quality to make the live experience truly touching, funny and marvelously heartwarming even in the teary eyed moments. As Truvy says (“ laughter through tears is my favorite emotion”)
“There are differences between the movie and the play.” Lindley said “all of the action takes place in the beauty shop, and though other locations are spoken of, nothing outside of the beauty shop is shown.”
"Setting the show in entirely in the beauty salon is technically easier to produce," she said. "We have such an intimate space and I think it benefit’s the play as it draws audiences deep into the story and gives you a feeling of being a fly on the wall watching these women stories play out in real time before you.”
Dana Harrison of Richardson who plays the ever charming and witty Clairee Belcher said "Steel Magnolias seems more real to audience members because they are not distracted by the magnitude of celebrity that is in the movie."
"I think that is why many audiences like the stage version better," Harrison said. "When they see it, they aren't taken out of the moment with the star power of the movie and can take in the story more honestly."
Showtimes
Friday & Saturday Evenings at 8 p.m.
Sunday Matinees at 3 p.m.
Tickets
Fridays & Saturdays $22 • Sundays $20
Reservations & Info
(972) 699-1130
The Richardson Theatre Centre is located at
2701 N. Custer Pkwy., Suite 718, near Custer & Renner Rd. in II Creeks
