Laura Young
ECB Publishing, Inc.
The Monticello Opera House (MOH) production of the Broadway and film hit Steel Magnolias offers well-delivered humor that weaves seamlessly throughout with the touching and heartbreaking moments of the story. The audience on Saturday night was tickled pink, bursting into laughter from moment to moment as they enjoyed an evening full of funny lines rooted in a range of comedic techniques, including irony, sarcasm, word play and good-natured pokes at life in the South.
The humor comes across naturally, as six women who gather regularly at Truvy Jones' in-home beauty parlor in Chinquapin, La., talk through the joys and losses of their interwoven lives.
We feel the highly relatable mother-daughter dynamic between M'Lynn Eatenton, played by Tammy Brookins of Monticello, and Shelby Eatenton Latcherie, played by Madison Ella Hallmark of Mayo. There's a nutty, magnolia-swiping, bird-shooting neighbor whose antics spur the hilarious reactions of Ouiser Boudreaux, played by Paige Hyland-Rhinehart of Tallahassee. On Saturday evening, she put on such a crowd-pleasing performance that the audience audibly expressed their excited anticipation every time she entered the stage.
The character of Annelle Dupuy-DeSoto, played by Emma Grace Ducksworth of Mayo, adds an element of mystery to the show as a newcomer to the town just hired to work for Truvy, who is played by Monica Duque of Tallahassee. The ensemble is rounded out by the character Clairee Belcher, played by Mandy Morgan Self of Monticello.
Under the direction of Jessica Webb of Madison, these local actresses bring this classic story, which is based on author Robert Harling's true-life experiences, home to our own little corner of the South in a way that makes it clear that the underlying emotions, tribulations and passages in life are more than southern, they are universal to humanity.
Stage Manager Olivia Brookins and her team engineered flawless sound, rigged mostly effective lighting and built a set that brought us right into the beauty parlor scenes, as if we were sitting at one of Truvy's chairs just across the room. Assistant Stage Manager is Tessia Brookins; Petra Brookins handles lighting and sound; and the set was constructed by Barbie Nettles, Dale Austin, Nancy Austin and Marc Cramer.
The show marks a few firsts among the cast and production team. The MOH Steel Magnolias production is the acting debut for Tammy Brookins and Monica Duque, who both hold their own among the more seasoned cast members. Although Director Jessica Webb – who owns A Main Street Realty and Grumpy's Diner in Madison – has been acting and directing as far back as she can remember, this is her first time directing at MOH. Judging by her success in finding the perfect blend of humor and drama for Steel Magnolias, I'm hoping for more shows from her at MOH!
Steel Magnolias first opened in New York City off Broadway in 1987, and by 1989 was on a national tour in the U.S. and hitting theaters in the United Kingdom and Australia. The show would go on to appear in Europe, Scandinavia and Asia, attesting to the story's universal appeal. The play made its Broadway debut in 2005 and ran for 136 performances before closing. You won't want to miss this well-done local production of such a touching story that speaks to the underlying strength of true friendship.
Tickets are available for two more weeks of performances on Friday evenings, Saturday evenings and Sunday matinees from Oct. 21-30.
Full cash/credit card bar will be available featuring premium beer, wine and cocktails.
Friday and Saturday shows begin at 8 p.m., with the lobby and bar open at 7 p.m. Sunday matinees begin at 2 p.m., with the lobby and bar open at 1 p.m.
Tickets cost $23 (discounts and upgrades are available) and may be purchased online at monticellooperahouse.org or by calling (850) 997-4242. Tickets will also be available for purchase at the door for all performances.