Steel Magnolias by Robert Harling

Tuesday 4th - Saturday 8th November, Theatre Royal, Bury St. Edmunds

Despite the popular appeal of Steel Magnolias since its release in 1989, I have never seen a single clip of the blockbuster movie, which is why the opening night of the stage play at Bury St Edmunds’ Theatre Royal felt like a true blank canvas, with no preconceptions and an opportunity to consider it on its own merit, just as one would a lesser known play. And I wasn’t disappointed.  Performed by Suffolk’s very own Irving Stage Company, the production provided an evening of gentle, yet thought provoking entertainment.

The story follows the life of Shelby, a young woman who is diagnosed with diabetes at an early age and is based on Robert Harling’s devastating experience of losing his sister to complications from the very same condition.The setting throughout the play is Truvy’s Beauty Salon in 1980s Louisiana, where the cast of six women use clever dialogue and constantly flowing humour to bond them together in friendship, the true extent of which is only revealed towards the end. Sian Couture’s portrayal of Truvy is splendidly natural in her role as purveyor and collector of beauty salon gossip.  It is also a delight to welcome newcomer Charlotte Jones to the stage as Truvy’s new assistant Annelle who blossoms in more ways than one as the play progresses.However it was the relationship between M’Lynn and Shelby that truly excelled with Jackie Deane’s excellent portrayal of M’Lynne, the grouchy determined mother of the equally determined but more positively natured Shelby, played by Sarah Mineart. 

But for me, it was Deane in particular who stole the show with an emotional scene in Act 2, delivering lines that were met with real tears both on stage and in the audience, which in true Steel Magnolia style was buffered by the delicious banter between the fine figures of Clairee and Ouiser, with a wonderful heart-warming ending demonstrating the strength of camaraderie amongst friends.