THEATER REVIEW
A 'must-see' at the playhouse
By JOHN VIA with Allie Hardwick And Joan Croker

Somewhere between Monroe and Shreveport in the piney woods of northeast Louisiana, there is a small town named Chinquapin. And in Chinquapin there is the remarkable establishment known as Truvy's Beauty Parlor, the single scene for all of the action of the play, "Steel Magnolias."

Truvy's place magically appeared on the stage of the Washington Little Theater Company last Friday and Saturday and enchanted its audiences with two hours of mighty fine entertainment. It'll be back this weekend. Comoe prepared to laugh heartily and to weep quietly. Grown, gray-haired men had their handkerchiefs out Saturday afternoon. This is not a chick-play. It's tough stuff

"Steel Magnolias" is also the stuff of religious archetype; indeed, we tell you unequivocally that this script figures forth in character and action the essential Christian concept of the faith community. The wonderful characters of the piece are a bonded group of distinctly eccentric women, young and old, rich and poor, who have established, before and during their time on stage, profound relationships with each other, relationships which are rich, intimate, poignant, loving, and deeply committed.

They carry each other through the best and worst of times: marriage, divorce, agonizing illness, and death - all with explosive volatility, wicked humor, and loving grace. They love each other without qualification, and selflessly - again, Christian agape. They are religious, I a spectrum from pulpit-pounding, evangelical, fundamentalist Baptists to high Episcopalians.

The ensemble cast does an elegant job of making you feel that you ARE a part of the affairs and events of their lives. Truvy (Jerry Denard) is the overseer of the beauty shop, the driving force of the group, and around her cluster the other characters.

Clairee (Ginny King) is the matriarch of the beauty clan, the wife of the just-deceased mayor and owner of the radio station. M'Lynn (Sarah Peacock) is the strong and compassionate mother of daughter Shelby (Katy Leverette) who is seriously diabetic, and whose young life, marriage, motherhood, and sad death underline all the action of the play.

Ouiser (Judy Burkham) is the town loudmouth and resident cynic, outrageous and lovable. Annelle (Meredith Atwood in the past weekend's performance, Delaney Russell in this week's) is the fragile, fidgeting newcomer to Truvy's the young woman with an intriguing past (and a bright future.)

Under Bolton Lunceford's specific direction (with help from Joan Baker), these women come alive with vigor and verve and pull us into the rhythms of their lives. There is strong content here, and a spectrum of fine performances.

The set is appropriately hightacky north Louisiana eclectic - in other words, familiar and realistic to us all. Congratulations to Bolton, Bradley and Katherine Barber, and Thomas Zelenka, who conceived it, and Lamont Lannae and the Barbers and the whole cast who built it.. Congratulations to Rosemary Newby, Bruce Beggs, Judy Burkham, and the cast who furnished it.

The set and its furnishings are one reason we find ourselves drawn into the lives of these women. We know that beauty shop; we've lived in that set. We've been a part of those conversations - amidst the hairdryers and the curlers and the incessantly ringing telephone.

If you know this story only from the film starring Dolly Parton, Sallie Field, Shirley MacLaine, and Julia Roberts, then you need to see the play, and this specific production. On the stage all the action is focused on the relationships of these strong, remarkable women in the single setting of Truvy's beauty parlor. Playwright Robert Harling adapted his own play for the screenplay, but the film significantly diffuses the power and drive of the original. This production presents and preserves that power.

Drop in to Truvy's at The Playhouse on Friday and Saturday, October 6-7, at 8:00 p.m., or on Sunday afternoon at 3:00 p.m. If you haven't been to the beauty parlor or the barber shop lately, call 706-678- 9582 and make a reservation.

You'll be glad you did.

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