by June August

CAUTION: THIS REVIEW CONTAINS SPOILERS ABOUT THE MAJOR PLOT ELEMENT OF THE PLAY. DO NOT READ THE REVIEW IF YOU PLAN TO SEE THE PLAY AND DON’T ALREADY KNOW THE STORY OF Steel Magnolias.

In Robert Harling’s Steel Magnolias, running at the Palm Canyon Theatre in Palm Springs through October 15th (erroneously stated as the 25th originally), a group of talented women actors presents the humor and pathos that they reveal as they use their beauty shop appointments as therapy sessions. Daytime television performer and well-known local actor Judith Chapman plays M’Lynn, around whom most of the action focuses.

The play arose from Robert Harling’s grief after his young sister died from diabetes complications. The title refers to the very Southern, delicate magnolias — as delicate as Southern white men often thought their women to be. The women may have played along to protect the mens' feelings, but they knew who was really made of steel.

There are a few acting and directing choices that I disagreed with in the otherwise powerful presentation. After Shelby's pregnancy announcement, I really wanted to see much more overt compassion for her situation. Also, Shelby not capture the poignancy I would have preferred in that character; I didn't find her sympathetic, but her characterization is, of course, an acting and directing choice — others might disagree with my view.

At rise, we see Truvy (Denise Strand), a beauty shop owner in 1980s Louisiana, having her hairdo arranged by Annelle (Georgia Smith), a newcomer in town who needs a job. Coincidentally, Truvy needs a new hairdresser and hires Annelle on the spot. From their first exchange, Truvy and Annelle launch the humor.  As the Saturday clientele arrives in the shop one by one, wisecracks and gags abound thanks to entertaining performances by Michele Davis as Ouizer and Virginia Sulick as Clairee. The women are coming to have their hair done for a wedding.  The bride-to-be is Shelby (Erin Shull), M’Lynn’s daughter.  

Though it’s taken a while, we’ve recently seen more plays written for an all-female cast—not just gender-bending productions.  I found it gratifying to see this talented, all-female ensemble cast bring the Palm Canyon production to life.  Derik Shopinski’s direction helped me visualize the beginning of their friendships — strangers meeting for the first time in the beauty shop forty years ago. Within ten or fifteen minutes, they knew each other’s life story, thus establishing a permanent bond, and taking us with them. Toby Griffin’s colorful beauty shop set recreates the style of the era, and helps us get to know the characters.

The wedding vectors into the main story.  When Shelby becomes pregnant, we learn that her kidney condition could be exacerbated by childbirth.  Nevertheless, the headstrong but endearing mother-to-be attempts to assure her mother, M’Lynn, that nothing will go wrong. That gives it away, doesn’t it?

What could be more heart-wrenching than the outpouring of grief by a mother over the loss of her child when the foreshadowed tragedy strikes? The monologue powerfully delivered by M’Lynn near the end of the play embodies that grief. But Steel Magnolias is not about the pain of grief.  It’s about love and compassion and the exquisite warmth of lifelong friendships. There’s plenty of old-fashioned southern comfort in this production.

The rest of the performances are on Thursday, October 12th at 7 p.m., Friday and Saturday, October 13th and 14th at 8 p.m., and Sunday, October 15th at 2:00 p.m. Ticket prices are $32 for adults and senior and $17 for students and children. (For musicals, prices are $38 for most adults, $34 for seniors, and $17 for students and children). For tickets, call 760-323-5123 or visit https://ci.ovationtix.com/36239/production/1161187. The theater is located at 538 N. Palm Canyon Drive, Palm Springs, CA 92262, between N. Palm Canyon Drive and Indian Canyon Drive, on the north side of E. Alejo Road.

The rest of the 2023-24 season consists of:

RENT (Oct 27 - Nov 12, 2023)

ELF (Dec 1 – 17, 2023)

SORDID LIVES (Jan 19 – 28, 2024)

SOMETHING ROTTEN! (Feb 9-25, 2024)

SWEENEY TODD (Mar 8 – 24, 2024)

THE BOYS IN THE BAND (Apr 12 – 21, 2024)

THE LIGHT IN THE PIAZZA (May 10 -19, 2024)

BYE BYE BIRDIE (July 5-14, 2024)

Photo Credit: Carlos Mendoza