Riverwalk’s Steel Magnolias defies the “black box=simple set” concept on it’s Black Box stage with a beautifully equipped, very realistic 80’s beauty salon set (designed by Aja Jenks with Patty Wieber as Lead Set Builder, assisted by Leroy Cupp, Tom Ferris, Leon Green, Alan Greenberg and Bob Nees, notably the ONLY men associated with this female-powered show, front and backstage.)
Director Meghan Eldred-Woolsey has assembled and energized a wonderful cast. Laura Croff is the delightfully overdone Truvy, owner of the shop, who believes, “There is no such thing as ‘natural beauty’.” Her one-liners bring lots of laughs, but her sincere devotion to her ladies shines through, partly in her motherly taking “new girl in town” Annelle under her wing and into her employ. Caila Conklin does a great job as that new girl, Annelle, both in her evolving character and her ability to actually create hairdos. Gloria Vivalda and Amy Rickett are fun as the two longtime friends playfully at odds with each other, Gloria with her wry elegance and Amy with her cranky barbs.
Taylor Haslett and Gini Larson create the heart of the show so it can be poignantly broken. Their relationship entertains with southern charm, using bickering and exasperation as decoration for a devoted mother/daughter bond. Taylor evolves from giddy bride to determined mother, and Gini evolves from protective/worried to self-sacrificing to grief stricken. Her Act II monologue is a masterpiece.
Truvy’s line, “Laughter through tears is my favorite emotion,” seems to be the show’s motto. As we are drawn into this beauty-shop community/church/family through laughter, we are ready to join in those tears, and trust that life goes on, and that this group will support each other through whatever it brings.
Steel Magnolias continues through April 23 — 7pm Thursday with masks and half-house sold for spaced out seating Thursdays only — also 8pm Fri/Sat; 2pm Sun. Riverwalk’s Black Box is general but limited seating, so make a reservation to assure admission at http://riverwalktheatre.com or call 517-482-5700.