NCT's  Steel  Magnolias  Is  a  Must-See  Production

The North Carolina Theatre's Nov. 4-6 and 8-13 presentation, directed by Lauren Kennedy Brady, stars Felicia Finley as Truvy, Alison
Fraser as Clairee, Kathleen Garrett as Ouiser, Carly Grissom as Annelle, Meadow Nguy as Shelby, and Angela Pierce as M'Lynn

"There's no such thing as natural beauty," exclaims self-employed beautician Truvy very early in the opening scene of Robert Harling's Steel Magnolias. I beg to differ. Under Lauren Kennedy Brady's direction, the North Carolina Theatre's production of Steel Magnolias is as beautiful and as natural as you could ask for.

The Play:

Because the play was first produced in 1987 and was then adapted to the screen in 1989, one might think, "I've had enough of Steel Magnolias." Again, I beg to differ.

So, let's get ready to head on down to Chinquapin, Louisiana, where we'll meet a half-dozen good ol' gals in Truvy's in-home beauty parlor; and let's prepare to fall in love with all six of them as we witness their interactions in scenes in April 1987, December 1987, June 1988, and November 1988. We'll admire their strength, we'll cheer for their resolve as they meet their challenges, and [spoiler alert:] we'll grieve with them at their moments of loss. As sweet as we might find Steel Magnolias, the moments of joy and laughter will always be just a little shaded by a sense of foreboding, because of a certain character's medical condition.

NCT's production of Steel Magnolias, directed by Lauren Kennedy Brady, stars Felicia Finley (top)
as Truvy and Meadow Nguy as Shelby (photo by Curtis Brown Photography/Eugene Shlapko)

The Cast:

Felicia Finley endows her Truvy with a personality that is so optimistic and upbeat that she's a neverending positive force in the lives of every one of her friends/customers. Part of the character's charm is in the gait with which she scurries across the shop. (I was reminded just a little of a hyper-excited Peg Bundy on Fox TV's Married ... with Children.)

Carly Grissom's Annelle is delightfully mousy as the Truvy's newly hired helper, air-headed on occasion, but always well-meaning. While unexpected, Annelle's character arc is totally believable in Grissom's hands.

Angela Pierce (as M'Lynn) and Meadow Nguy (as Shelby) have an endearing mother-daughter relationship, even when they are at odds. Nguy imbues Shelby with an enviable degree of optimism and determination. And be sure to tune in closely when Pierce delivers "M'Linn's Monologue."

Alison Fraser (as Clairee) and Kathleen Garrett (as Ouiser) couldn't possibly be any cuter, with their snarkiness and their verbal sparring.

The North Carolina Theatre's production of Steel Magnolias, playing through Sunday, Nov. 13th, in the
Fletcher Opera Theater in Raleigh's Duke Energy Center for the Performing Arts, stars Meadow Nguy
(top) as Shelby and Angela Pierce as M'Lynn (photo by Curtis Brown Photography/Eugene Shlapko)

The Tech:

Costume designer Kishara McKnight has captured the look of late 1980s fashions, complete with the prints and the shoulder pads. Scenic designer Benedict Fancy nails all of the details needed to create Truvy's shop. Sound designer Eric Alexander Collins and lighting designer CJ Barnwell both hit their customary high marks.

Because the show is set in a beauty shop, I would be remiss if I failed to tip my hat to hair & wig designer Liz Printz and hair & wig supervisor Angella Fraser -- well done!

Alison Fraser (left) and Kathleen Garrett star as Clairee and Ouiser in the North Carolina Theatre's Nov. 4-6
and 8-13 presentation of Steel Magnolias (photo by Curtis Brown Photography/Eugene Shlapko)

Nice Touches:

• The ladies' Southern belle-ish speech patterns (for example: "ah swannee" as a demure, sanitized substitute for "I swear").
• The realism created by the never overdone "busy-ing," with such necessary tasks as sweeping the floor after cutting hair.
• The facial expressions with which several of the characters punctuated their "zinger" lines.
• The Christmas decorations and Christmas sweaters.

The Verdict:

This production would have been a success anywhere, but I cannot imagine a better venue than the A.J. Fletcher Opera Theater in Raleigh, NC's Duke Energy Center for the Performing Arts. So, let me change that "Let's get ready to head on down ..." to "Hurry on down ...." You don't want to miss it.

The North Carolina Theatre's Nov. 4-13 production of Steel Magnolias stars Angela Pierce (left) as
M'Lynn and Felicia Finley as Truvy (photo by Curtis Brown Photography/Eugene Shlapko)

Robert Harling's STEEL MAGNOLIAS (In Person at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday-Friday and 2 and 7:30 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, Nov. 6 and 8-13), directed by Lauren Kennedy Brady and starring Felicia Finley as Truvy Jones, Alison Fraser as Clairee Belcher, Kathleen Garrett as Ouiser Boudreaux, Carly Grissom as Annelle Dupuy-Desoto, Meadow Nguy as Shelby Eatenton-Latcherie, and Angela Pierce as M'Lynn Eatenton DIGITAL PLAYBILL: https://nctheatre.com/sites/nct/files/2022_SteelMagnolias_WebRev.pdf. VIDEOS: https://www.facebook.com/nctheatre/videos/. NCT NEWS RELEASE: https://nctheatre.com/blog/meet-ladies-who-are-delicate-magnolias-and-tough-steel. 2022-23 SEASON: https://nctheatre.com/show-season/202021-season. (North Carolina Theatre in the A.J. Fletcher Opera Theater in the Duke Energy Center for the Performing Arts in Raleigh). THE PRESENTER: https://nctheatre.com/, https://www.facebook.com/nctheatre, https://www.instagram.com/nctheatre/, https://twitter.com/nctheatre, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/North_Carolina_Theatre, and https://www.youtube.com/user/nctheatre. THE VENUE: https://www.dukeenergycenterraleigh.com/venues, https://www.facebook.com/DECRaleigh, https://www.instagram.com/DECRaleigh/, https://twitter.com/DECRaleigh, and https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCUCPC9naUI3G8vHw0K8Qnew. DIRECTIONS/PARKING: https://www.dukeenergycenterraleigh.com/getting-duke-energy-center. KNOW-BEFORE-YOU-GO INFORMATION: https://www.dukeenergycenterraleigh.com/know-before-you-go-information. THE PLAY: https://www.dramatists.com/cgi-bin/db/single.asp?key=1063, http://www.iobdb.com/Production/551, https://www.ibdb.com/broadway-show/steel-magnolias-386797, and https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Steel_Magnolias_(play). THE SCRIPT (excerpts): https://books.google.com/books. THE PLAYWRIGHT: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0363326/, http://www.iobdb.com/CreditableEntity/5616, https://www.ibdb.com/broadway-cast-staff/robert-harling-392114, and https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_Harling_(writer). TICKETS: $23.67 and up, plus taxes and fees. Click here to buy tickets. GROUP RATES (10+ tickets): 919-831-6941 or groups@nctheatre.com. INFORMATION: 919-831-6941 or boxoffice@nctheatre.com. DONATE TO: North Carolina Theatre. Susie Potter's Triangle Arts Review Review.

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