Friendships can spring up in any environment.
In Iola Community Theatre’s upcoming presentation they occur in a beauty salon in a small Louisiana town, bonding six women who at times are as fragile as a magnolia, yet as strong and resilient as steel — “Steel Magnolias.”
It will be staged Saturday at 7 p.m. and Sunday at 2 p.m. and again May 3 and 4 at the Warehouse Theatre, 203 S. Jefferson. Tickets — $15 for adults and $10 for students — are available at Sophisticated Rose in downtown Iola.
The central theme revolves around a young woman, Shelby, and is carried out in humor, foreboding and poignancy.
Elyssa Jackson plays Shelby.
She is comfortable on stage and carries out well a range of emotions, from pre-nuptial giddiness, to excitement when the pregnancy is positive, to resolve when confronted by problems arising from birth with her being a diabetic.
Truvy Jones, portrayed by Angela Whitmore, owns the beauty shop. She is chatty yet has no compunction not to be pragmatic. To wit: When Shelby mentions she has crow’s feet starting to appear on her eye’s edge, Truvy replies, “Time marches on and right across your face.”
Amanda Moyer as M’Lynn, Shelby’s mother, displays a wide range of emotions. She is stoic through much of the play, but falls into a wistful mood when discussing problems that may occur with diabetes and pregnancy and in conclusion cries real tears.
Tara Lind is the come-lately member of the beauty shop circle, and has some reluctance fitting in, first through shyness and then when her religion becomes a little too dominant for the others.
Jaime Westervelt isn’t on stage as much as the others, as Oiser Boudreaux, who has been in a bad mood for decades. That’s a pity, her arrogance delights — and in the end she’s just as emotional as the others.
Finally, there is Linda Brocker as Clairee, well to do and older, who occasionally surprises with her observations and that she’s never nonplused. Maybe having taught in elementary school for years prepared her for just this role.
THE PLAY is filled with commentary that’s humorous, cutting and sometimes distressing.
Early on Shelby argues that her wedding colors as “blush and bashful not pink,” though she eventually admits they’re “pink and darker pink.”
“It no sin not being able to have children,” her mother interjects while encouraging adoption.
When the pregnancy is announced, Shelby is distraught that her mother doesn’t express happiness. “Complications are a part of life,” she says. “I wish you would be happy for me.”
When her family life crops up, Shelby’s mother observes: “I’m lucky to have what I have, or (is it) I’m lucky to know what I have.”
