Steel Magnolias review: Laughter, tears and wigs galore in a close-up on female friendship

Steel Magnolias
Robert Harling’s 1987 play was inspired by the death of his sister due to complications arising from diabetes.

Steel Magnolias is in theatres now

Close-up on female friendship
Intended as a tribute to her and the women who rallied around to support her, it was made into a hit movie two years later with Dolly Parton, Sally Field and Julia Roberts. This touring version is a timely reminder of Harling’s scintillating, bittersweet script that provides wonderful roles for an all-female cast.

Set in Louisiana in a small-town beauty salon run by the irrepressible Truvy (Lucy Speed, channelling Dolly Parton superbly), it is a loose, episodic story about a disparate group of women who use the salon as an unofficial social centre and retreat from husbands, housework and the humdrummery of their daily lives.

Pivoting around the impending marriage of Shelby (Diana Vickers) whose charmed life is blighted by diabetes, it celebrates the loyalties, rivalries and mutual support of women’s friendship.

Harling’s script is packed full of comedy stingers (“The nicest thing I can say about her is that all her tattoos are spelt correctly”) that the ensemble delivers with aplomb.

On an authentic-looking, if wobbly set, big hair is backcombed into huge hair, curlers are applied or removed with professional ease and hair is washed over a sink by newcomer Annelle (Elizabeth Ayodele) who harbours secrets of her own.
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