Women’s resiliency Phoenix Theatre Company’s production of ‘Steel Magnolias’ highlights strength and resiliency of six Southern women BY LAURA LATZKO In these times, leaning on one another and having a sense of humor has been even more important. Robert Harling’s play “Steel Magnolias” highlights these themes through six women, who come together at Truvy’s Beauty Salon in Chinquapin, Louisiana. The Phoenix Theatre Company will host the production from August 18 to September 12. The show is being directed by Karla Koskinen, who previously directed the company’s productions of “The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time,” “End of the Rainbow,” “Our Town” and “The Light in the Piazza.” The show has similar characters as the 1989 film starring Shirley MacLaine, Olympia Dukakis, Julia Roberts, Sally Field and Dolly Parton, but it focuses more on the central female characters. Audiences will meet Truvy; the beauty
shop owner and town gossip; M’Lynn , a prominent career woman; Annelle, the shy apprentice beautician; Ouiser, a rich curmudgeon; Clairee, the wealthy widow of the former mayor and Shelby, M’Lynn’s daughter and the town beauty. The show gives a deeper glimpse into how these Southern women come together in hard times and good and act as a support system for each other. Koskinen says although the show is set in late ’70 and early ‘80s, it speaks to topics that are relevant today. “It’s all about sisterhood, being with people, supporting people and dealing with the challenges of life. There’s a death, and the women support one another and help work through the grief,” Koskinen says. “After being isolated the way that we were, to come back with a show that celebrates community, that really spoke to me, and also the fact that it looks at death
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as a part of life and reminds us all that we need to be very grateful for what we have and live in the moment.” The show has a balance of heartfelt moments and humor. “When there are things that get heavy, somebody always injects humor… That’s what we do in life. When things are getting too heavy, somebody is going to lighten it up. They are these women The play “Steel Magnolias” highlights the friendships of six Southern women in Louisiana. (Image courtesy of Phoenix Theatre Company) with really acer“People think Southern accents are all bic wits. They like to tease each other… the same, but they are very different, de(Robert Harling) has written really interesting characters, and they all have pending on the region…I think it’s really important that we don’t have a generic unique senses of humor,” Koskinen says. The play highlights the different levels accent but that we have one that is authentic to the region,” Koskinen says. of strength possessed by these women. To help prepare them, Koskinen record“Even though it is about the hardships in life, it’s also about all the joy. Every ed a friend who grew up in Louisiana. Actresses will also be tasked with stylwoman in this piece is strong and finding ing hair or getting their hair done ona way to carry on. Each woman has their trials and tribulations, but they each com- stage. They worked with a professional mit to living life to the fullest,” Koskinen stylist to learn the ins and outs to bring more authenticity to their roles. says. “It’s a technique that people develop While many plays focus on male characters, “Steel Magnolias” is centered overtime, and they have to have a crash around a group of mostly older women, course and get this down because it has who audiences get to know throughout to look like this is what they do for a living,” Koskinen says. the show on a deeper level. The characters’ husbands and brothers are referenced but never appear onstage. Koskinen says that this focus on these What: Phoenix Theatre Company’s women, along with the beauty shop setproduction of ‘Steel Magnolias’ ting, helps to bring a level of intimacy to When: August 18 to September 12 the show. Where: Phoenix Theatre Company, One of the biggest challenges for the 1825 N. Central Avenue, Phoenix actresses has been to master the accents. Cost: tickets start at $35 plus fees The characters speak in a dialect promInfo: 602-254-2151, inent in the region in which the show phoenixtheatre.com takes place.
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