Actors Co-op presents Robert Harling’s Steel Magnolias, directed by Cameron Watson, produced by Lauren Thompson. Set in a small town beauty salon in Louisiana, Steel Magnolias celebrates the bond of friendship between six women in the midst of life’s challenges. Based on the playwright’s upbringing, and later adapted into the critically acclaimed film, Steel Magnolias is a humorous, yet devastating journey of friendship, loss, and love. March 22 – May 5. Fridays and Saturdays 8:00 pm. Sunday Matinees 2:30 pm. Saturday Matinees March 30 and April 6 at 2:30 pm. Dark Easter Weekend April 19 – 21. Ages 13 and up. Adults: $35. Seniors (60+) $30. Students with ID: $25.00. Group rates available. For tickets www.ActorsCo-op.org or (323) 462-8460. Actors Co-op David Schall Theatre, 1760 North Gower St. (on the campus of the First Presbyterian Church of Hollywood) in Hollywood.
STEEL MAGNOLIAS
Reviews
Skillful director Cameron Watson manages to take the everyday and make it humorous and poignant at the same time. His swift pace keeps the laughter flowing – sometimes with a few tears in between. The ensemble cast does an excellent job of individualizing each character – but at the same time creating a symphony of song in different keys.
The play's obliviousness to the world beyond these white characters and its veneration for stereotypical gender roles might make “Steel Magnolias” feel like a relic of its time to some audience members. But even an old-fashioned recipe, when lovingly prepared and seasoned with touches like period costumes (by Terry A. Lewis), a nostalgic soundtrack (by Cameron Combe) and authentic-sounding accents (coached by Adam Michael Rose) can taste good. Watson's “Steel Magnolias” owes a lot of its charm to six particular ingredients: Ivy Beech, Lori Berg, Deborah Marlowe, Nan McNamara, Heidi Palomino and Treva Tegtmeier.
Basically, the play is a very funny ensemble piece about a group of women that have become like a family based around a shared beauty shop in small town Louisiana, just as men bond in barber shops. The story, as noted above, revolves around Shelby — her marriage, her having a child, and the subsequent decline in her health leading to her death. Through this character's transition, we see how it changes the women around her: the shop owner Truvy and her assistant, Annelle; Shelby's mother, M'Lynn; the wife of the former mayor, Claree, and the town grouch, Ouiser. The casting and direction by director Cameron Watson (FB) plays to the strengths of each actress, making the production seem effortless. Our production was marred by just a few line hesitations, but that seems to be common with this show.
"One of the best acting ensembles of the past few years, there isn't a weak link in the entire cast. Everything just works!"
Guaranteeing audiences the kind of “laughter through tears” that Truvy has been declaring her favorite emotion these past thirty-two years, Actors Co-op does Steel Magnolias proud.
Director Cameron Watson has assembled a talented sextette of women and deftly guided them through the laughs and the tears of Harling's tale. It's amazing to hear so many iconic lines and realize that they first engendered laughs in this play. Harling's first writing effort was a delicate blend of comedy and tragedy...
Watching this excellent current revival of Robert Harling's Steel Magnolias at Actors Co-op, I was reminded yet again of the power of a strong ensemble. Solo shows and two-handers certainly have their place, but there is something about the interaction among a group of talented actors, where many things combine to become one greater thing, that seems to me to be the very heart of whatever magic theater creates. That magic is on full display in this new production of Magnolias, which is undeniably enjoyable and sure to be a crowd-pleaser...
Director Cameron Watson stages the show with such talent that it seems seamless and effortless. Stephen Gifford's bi-level salon set is so realistic one feels one could just sit down in one of the chairs and gets one's hair done. Terri A. Lewis's costumes are both flamboyant and appropriate. I already knew Harling's play was entertaining and moving, but I'd forgotten just how clever a lot of the dialogue is; any play that can drop in “Empty is the head that wears the crown” to describe a pageant winner is working with an excess of riches.
So I'd recommend this superb revival of Steel Magnolias, and I'd advise buying tickets soon, because if I'm any judge, this production will sell out. - RECOMMENDED
Playwright Robert Harling's sharp, snappy, heart-wrenching, Louisiana-favored dialogue receives its most worthy due in this Actors Co-op production; cast with a spot-on ensemble of six amazing actresses, smoothly and expertly helmed by director Cameron Watson.
Skillful director Cameron Watson manages to take the everyday and make it humorous and poignant at the same time. His swift pace keeps the laughter flowing – sometimes with a few tears in between. The ensemble cast does an excellent job of individualizing each character – but at the same time creating a symphony of song in different keys.
The play's obliviousness to the world beyond these white characters and its veneration for stereotypical gender roles might make “Steel Magnolias” feel like a relic of its time to some audience members. But even an old-fashioned recipe, when lovingly prepared and seasoned with touches like period costumes (by Terry A. Lewis), a nostalgic soundtrack (by Cameron Combe) and authentic-sounding accents (coached by Adam Michael Rose) can taste good. Watson's “Steel Magnolias” owes a lot of its charm to six particular ingredients: Ivy Beech, Lori Berg, Deborah Marlowe, Nan McNamara, Heidi Palomino and Treva Tegtmeier.
Basically, the play is a very funny ensemble piece about a group of women that have become like a family based around a shared beauty shop in small town Louisiana, just as men bond in barber shops. The story, as noted above, revolves around Shelby — her marriage, her having a child, and the subsequent decline in her health leading to her death. Through this character's transition, we see how it changes the women around her: the shop owner Truvy and her assistant, Annelle; Shelby's mother, M'Lynn; the wife of the former mayor, Claree, and the town grouch, Ouiser. The casting and direction by director Cameron Watson (FB) plays to the strengths of each actress, making the production seem effortless. Our production was marred by just a few line hesitations, but that seems to be common with this show.
"One of the best acting ensembles of the past few years, there isn't a weak link in the entire cast. Everything just works!"
Guaranteeing audiences the kind of “laughter through tears” that Truvy has been declaring her favorite emotion these past thirty-two years, Actors Co-op does Steel Magnolias proud.
Director Cameron Watson has assembled a talented sextette of women and deftly guided them through the laughs and the tears of Harling's tale. It's amazing to hear so many iconic lines and realize that they first engendered laughs in this play. Harling's first writing effort was a delicate blend of comedy and tragedy...
Watching this excellent current revival of Robert Harling's Steel Magnolias at Actors Co-op, I was reminded yet again of the power of a strong ensemble. Solo shows and two-handers certainly have their place, but there is something about the interaction among a group of talented actors, where many things combine to become one greater thing, that seems to me to be the very heart of whatever magic theater creates. That magic is on full display in this new production of Magnolias, which is undeniably enjoyable and sure to be a crowd-pleaser...
Director Cameron Watson stages the show with such talent that it seems seamless and effortless. Stephen Gifford's bi-level salon set is so realistic one feels one could just sit down in one of the chairs and gets one's hair done. Terri A. Lewis's costumes are both flamboyant and appropriate. I already knew Harling's play was entertaining and moving, but I'd forgotten just how clever a lot of the dialogue is; any play that can drop in “Empty is the head that wears the crown” to describe a pageant winner is working with an excess of riches.
So I'd recommend this superb revival of Steel Magnolias, and I'd advise buying tickets soon, because if I'm any judge, this production will sell out. - RECOMMENDED
Playwright Robert Harling's sharp, snappy, heart-wrenching, Louisiana-favored dialogue receives its most worthy due in this Actors Co-op production; cast with a spot-on ensemble of six amazing actresses, smoothly and expertly helmed by director Cameron Watson.