Steel Magnolias

Heartwarming story of enduring friendships comes to Mount Tabor

The lives of six women in small-town Louisiana intertwine in a home beauty salon in Robert Harling’s 1987 play Steel Magnolias, which is being brought to life by Prince Edward Community Theatre at Mount Tabor Playhouse over the next two weekends, along with a performance next Wednesday. The play is based on Mr. Harling’s real life experience when his sister, Susan, dies from complications related to diabetes after the birth of her son. The play explores the deep bonds of friendship as each of the six women deal with events in their own lives while supporting one another through both happy and trying times. The implied heartbreak in the story is leavened by irrepressible humour, a celebration of love and an enduring resilience of spirit.

The Mount Tabor production is the directorial debut of Bailey Mulridge, who has been part of the County’s community theatre scene since 2015. They appeared in Veronica’s Room in 2017 and since then have assumed a number of backstage roles. “I found that very rewarding, helping to lift the show up while the actors are on stage. There’s so much going on in the background—lights and sound, costumes, props, set design—and it takes a team effort to make a show happen. The director’s role is just a small part of the overall picture,” said Mx. Mulridge. They chose this play because of the theme and how the characters were written. “It was so life-like to me. I started to look at old family albums from the late ’80s and early ’90s—not looking at the people, but at the backgrounds and colours— because I wanted to replicate that moment in time. I wanted Truvy’s Hair Salon to feel like a ‘warm hug’ and to put a piece of my home into Steel Magnolias,” they said. Mx. Mulridge kept making detailed notes through their preparation for this play, starting well before auditions were called last December. “I started this when we did Two on the Aisle, Three in a Van last year. Preparation is very important to me, and I like to plan ahead.” Rehearsals started mid-January, but some sessions had to be cancelled due to the weather. “Despite having that disadvantage, people have really pulled through together to make this show a reality,” they said.

Lori Farrington plays the role of Clairee Belcher, the town’s matriarch and widow of the recently deceased former mayor. This is her first time back on stage since before the Covid pandemic, and when she found out that auditions were being held for Steel Magnolias her interest was piqued. She had played the role of Truvy in the 2003 Mummers production, and she is very much looking forward to performing in this new role. She said the rehearsals with the other cast members have been a great experience. “Bailey is fantastic. I remember going home after the first rehearsal and thinking ‘This is going to be a lot of fun.’ The thing that really stood out was how much homework Bailey had done before even the auditions. They had done so much thinking and planning. It really impressed me, especially for a first-time director,” she said. “This has rekindled my enthusiasm for acting. It’s so great to come together as a team and create something together. This is fun.”

Emma Woodward rekindled her enthusiasm for the stage in last year’s production of The Red Velvet Cake War, which was her first time acting since she was in high school. She was aware that Mx. Mulridge was planning to bring Steel Magnolias to Mount Tabor, and jumped at the chance to audition, landing the role of Shelby, the fictionalized sister of the playwright. “I’m excited to be back on stage again. Mount Tabor is such a sweet theatre. I loved the movie of this play. I really like the mother-daughter storyline. There’s that constant push and pull of the two characters. Shelby is trying to make her own decisions in life and he mother is trying to protect her still, even after she’s married and moved on and made some big decisions,” she said. “The play is really about female friendships and how you help each other through hard times.” The setting in a beauty salon is a very familiar one to Ms. Woodward. She is the owner of a spa, and when one of the cast members needed to know how to do a manicure, she was ready to help.

Rounding out the cast members are Cheryl Singer who plays the salon owner Truvy Jones, newcomer Kat Burns who plays Annelle Dupuy-DeSoto, Truvy’s new and initially mysterious employee, Jen Sills as Ouiser Boudreaux, the town’s tart-tongued harridan, and Lynne Donovan— who had a standout debut performance in The Sweet Delilah Swim Club—returning to the stage as Shelby’s over-protective mother, M’Lynn. Mx. Mulridge said that the mix of experienced actors and newcomers is one of the great advantages of community theatre, as it is a way of encouraging participation. They are grateful for all the support the cast and crew has shown them in their debut as director. “I have to count on everybody to help, and I am thankful for it,” they said. Steel Magnolias opens on Saturday, April 5 at 7:30 p.m. There are evening performances on April 9, April 11 and April 12, with matinees at 2 p.m. on Sunday, April 6 and Sunday, April 13. For more information and tickets, please visit pecommtheatre.ca.