‘Steel Magnolias.’
By Sue Langenberg
<“Steel Magnolias” cast members Brittany Martin, Kelsey Andres, Rebecca Leopold, Lauren Omelson, Judy Knudtson and Claudia Vasilovik could not make their entrances in the scheduled show into the one beauty parlor set. Some in the audience when blown and soaked through the door joked about using the hairdryers on the set. Everyone was enormously gracious about any Plan B efforts but, alas, the show had to be cancelled with the box office honoring another performance.
<“Steel Magnolias” falls into our culture as a common impression from the film. Granted that Sally Field, Dolly Parton, Shirley MacLane, Daryl Hannah, Olympia Dukakis and Julia Roberts can make a huge impact on our perception of the story. But the truth is, the film is a weaker version of the play, mainly because it adds males in the cast, but not quite sure why. While the success of the film is admirable, the real strength occurs in the original play first produced off-Broadway in 1987 written by Robert Harling and loosely based on the death of his sister.
<“Steel Magnolias” continues tonight at Timber Lake Playhouse and runs Thursday June 24 through Saturday June 26. Friday and Saturday shows at 8 p.m., Wednesday and Thursday shows at 7:30 p.m. The Mt. Carroll boonies are a hop, skip and a jump to 8215 Black Oak Road. Call the box office at (815) 244-2035 or www.timberlakeplayhouse.org for tickets, group rates and more information.
