Hit Ouiser! Steel Magnolias in Columbiana

I had been getting the email updates and facebook newsfeed notices of the first adult theater performance at the local arts council in Columbiana (SEAC).   And the show was one of the all time favorite movies, Steel Magnolias.   And so on this Friday when Magan was planning to go to the Leanne Morgan show that night, I decided to take the girls to see the stage show that evening.   Magan told me that the "Saintly Sisters" from our church were also going in a big group, so we made plans to meet up with them at the show, and try to save seats together.   

“All the ladies who are “anybody” in Chinquapin, Louisiana come to Truvy’s beauty salon to have their hair done. Helped by her eager new assistant, Annelle (who is not sure whether or not she is still married), the outspoken, wise-cracking Truvy dispenses shampoo and free advice to the town’s rich curmudgeon, Ouiser, an eccentric millionaire; Miss Clairee, the former mayors wife; and the local social leader, M’Lynn, whose daughter, Shelby (the prettiest girl in town), is about to marry a “good ole boy.” Filled with hilarious repartee and several acerbic verbal collisions, the comedy moves toward tragedy when, in the second act, the spunky Shelby risks her life to go through with a dangerous pregnancy. Confronted with the harshness of mortality, the others draw together to find strength – and love – in the wake of tragedy.”  

I thought the ladies in this show did an amazing job sharing this story, and while M'Lynn did not hammer out a Sally Field level performance in that final scene that brings you to tears then laughter, she still brought out the tears and laughter that was perfect for this smaller Song Theater stage.   The whole show was done within Truvy's beauty salon through about 4 different scenes of these ladies lives.   The crowd was older as you might expect, but the laughter came from everyone.   The lady playing Annelle I think was me and the girls favorite, as her facial expressions were hilarious.   

During the Intermission, we saw Jeannette Gerald and Sherry Pouncey in the back, and got to talk with them for a little bit.   And feeling a little hungry, Ruby told me she was feeling like a "Pretzel".   And strangely enough, that was exactly what I wanted as well.   So after the show, we had 10 minutes to make it to the Little Caesars to order a pretzel crust pizza.   Anabelle laughed as I came out of the store with 2 pizzas and a crazy bread...for the three of us.   It was a really fun night.   Two of the girls in the show were students at the University of Montevallo, so you never know...our Belle may be up there one day.