Steel Magnolias

I saw the movie version of Steel Magnolias a long time ago, probably when I was about 15. I don’t remember much from the movie, mostly the famous scene where Olympia Dukakis tells Sally Field to hit Shirley MacLaine, and also a very young Julia Roberts (before she was super annoying). So it was interesting to read the play that the movie was based on. Although I wouldn’t place Steel Magnolias on any “high art” or “play that will change your life” list, it was still a good read, and a pretty decently written play for female actors (a hard thing to find, always).

Steel Magnolias, by Robert Harling (and based on his experience with the death of his sister), takes place in fictional small town of Chinquapin, Louisiana during the 1980’s. The entire play occurs in the beauty parlor of Truvy Jones, a middle aged woman who does whatever she wants and doesn’t seem to care what other people think. The five other characters in the play are: Annelle, Truvy’s young assistant and a new girl to the town; Clairee Belcher, an older woman who is the widow of the former mayor of the town; Shelby Eatenton-Latcherie, a young and beautiful girl who is about to be married at the start of the play; M’Lynn Eatenton, Shelby’s mother and a prominent career woman in town; and Ouiser Boudreaux, a wealthy older woman who is constantly complaining about everything. Any men mentioned in the play are never seen onstage, which proves that in this world men are just a background to these women’s lives; they are never truly as important as the women onstage. At the beginning of the play, everything seems happy; everyone is getting ready for Shelby’s wedding, and even though she and her mother are arguing, it all seems fairly normal. Sure, there is something strange going on with the new girl, Annelle. Sure, M’Lynn seems a little overly concerned with Shelby, but it mostly just seems like another typical day at the beauty salon. It’s only when we find out about Shelby’s diabetes and her intense desire for a child of her own that we realize all is not sunny in Philadelphia (Louisiana??).

I enjoyed the fact that this play shows strong female characters. Even though at first these women seem to be just typical frivolous Southern ladies, they are stronger than their appearances indicate. As the title proves, these women may seem as delicate as magnolia blossoms, but underneath they are as tough as steel. When complications arise from Shelby’s medical issues, it takes more than their regular salon gossip and complaints to get them through the pain. The play uses humor and carefree conversations to aid in dealing with the seriousness of the looming situations. The camaraderie and friendships of these women made them seem real to me, not just caricatures. Although the play does border on some slightly ridiculous situations, and sometimes the writing is a little cheesy and trite, I can still relate to these women and understand where they are coming from. Now if only the movie was on Netflix instant view, I feel like seeing Dolly Parton’s gigantic 80’s hair again….