Quote of the Day: Laughter through tears is my favorite emotion. Truvy in Steel Magnolias by Robert Harling. This script is beautifully mastered. Harling captures the spirit of these six strong women, these “Steel Magnolias,” so well. Presented in the intimate space of the Yellow Tree Theatre under the expert direction of Austene Van, we feel immediately pulled into the story and the lives of these women.

Tolu Ekisola, Tara Borman and Nora Targonski-O’Brien in Steel Magnolias at the Yellow Tree Theatre, thru 12/22/24. Photo: Alex Clark

I’ve often heard people say that while attending this play they feel like they’re sitting right there in the beauty shop with these characters who feel like friends. We’re part of the story. Perhaps what makes it feel that way is that Harling so wonderfully captures the friendship bond between women. We all long to be part of a group like that, the friends who celebrate with us during the good times, laugh during the silly ones, or the ones where all we can do is laugh because they’re so ridiculous and overwhelming, and cry with us during the times when our hearts are breaking.

Maggie Cramer, Jane Froiland, Tolu Ekisola, and Tara Borman in Steel Magnolias at the Yellow Tree Theatre, thru 12/22/24. Photo: Alex Clark

Austene Van has assembled a stellar cast of actors. They all fit their parts so beautifully and interact so well that you forget that you’re watching a play and see them as a group of friends sharing gossip and recipes and holding each other up. Tara Borman plays Shelby, whose wedding they’re all fussing over in the opening scenes. As each character enters the scene, we quickly understand their relationship with one another. Tolu Ekisola plays Truvy, the beauty shop owner, who knows all the gossip and laughs and cries right along with her clients. New to the shop is Annelle, played by Maggie Cramer. She does a great job of showing Annelle’s initial awkwardness and insecurities, and in each act becoming more confident and self-assured.

Maggie Cramer, Laura Esping, and Jane Froiland in Steel Magnolias at the Yellow Tree Theatre, thru 12/22/24. Photo: Alex Clark

Nora Targonski-O’Brien plays a delightful Clairee, the former first lady of Chinquapin Parish. She is the consummate Southern lady, and has the flashy wardrobe, manners, and style to prove it. Laura Esping plays the curmudgeonly Ouiser to perfection. She comes in all thorns and thistles, but when it comes time to support her friends, she is fierce with her love and devotion.

Jane Froiland plays Shelby’s mother M’lynn with such strength and emotion, I still get a little teary thinking about her delivery of her lines towards the end of the play. She is strong and capable, has a very believable push/pull relationship with her daughter, and is the rock that keeps her family together. One of the things I like about this play is that the actors always have something to do. They are actually rolling up the hair, taking down the hair, teasing it, styling it, pretending to wash it. Also, they do manicures and sweep up, get coffee, sit under the dryer. It all flows and feels so real.

Jane Froiland and Tara Borman in Steel Magnolias at the Yellow Tree Theatre, thru 12/22/24. Photo: Alex Clark

The wonderful, vintage looking beauty shop set is designed by Sarah Brandner. The posters of celebrities from the 1980’s was a great nostalgic touch! Fun 80’s fashion costumes designed by Jamakah Webb. Hair and wigs are impressive in this show, as well. Lighting and photos by Alex Clark, and sound design by Queen Drea. Technical Director is Trevor Zapiecki. 

Like many of you, I was introduced to this story by the 1989 film with the star studded cast: Julia Roberts, Dolly Parton, Sally Field, Daryl Hannah, Shirley MacLaine, and Olympia Dukakis. Several years ago, I was in a community theater production of it, playing Truvy, and have since been to at least four different productions of it. The story is timeless. The characters represent real people experiencing real life events that bring us to laughter and tears, and yes, sometimes simultaneously. We want to be part of that group of women who are always there for each other. And, at least for the approximate two hour run-time of the show, we are part of their lives, and are the better for it.

Maggie Cramer and Jane Froiland in Steel Magnolias at the Yellow Tree Theatre, thru 12/22/24. Photo: Alex Clark

You can see this marvelous production of Steel Magnolias at the Yellow Tree Theatre in Osseo, MN (free parking and a tasty Thai restaurant down the street) through December 22, 2024. Gather up your friendship group, your favorite family members, or go alone and enjoy every moment of this woman-empowering play!

Go. Create. Inspire!

Journaling Prompt: Describe a friendship group that you belong to, or would like to be part of. 

Coming up next at the Yellow Tree Theatre is the One Woman Playwright Festival. My show is the second weekend. Here’s the post!