The Harrogate Advertiser 24.1.92

Play That Gels Well

Six ladies are currently stealing the show at Harrogate Theatre - not on the main stage but in the studio, cleverly transformed into a hairdressing studio.
The all-female cast are presenting Harrogate Dramatic Society's latest production, Robert Harling's charming play, Steel Magnolias until tomorrow night.
Every performance since curtain-up on Tuesday, including the Saturday matinee has been sold out, such is the reputation of the society, and this latest offering does nothing to dent it.
A condensed version of the touching but humerous film, Steel Magnolias on the stage still manages to retain all the ingredients, including laughter, friendship, anger and grief.
Each of the six characters is very different, but the combination makes for a delightful tale, even though it involves the tragic death of a young bride.
Louise Parkes makes a very pretty Shelby Eatenton-Latcherie who loses her fight against diabetes and Jennifer Cowling prompts a few misty eyes in her role as the mother, battling with grief.
Marion Homer is excellent as the flamboyant salon owner, Truvy, and Shirley Grimshaw makes the bristling Oiser Boudreaux very believable. The cast is compimented by Lisa Garside as the assistant, Annelle, and Veronica Robson as another of the close friends, Clairee.
As the action takes place in Louisiana, American accents are needed but all six cope admirably well.
The play contains some really cracking lines, such as "I'm not crazy, I've just been in a very bad mood for 40 years", and all are well-delivered.
It's also a feast of glorious outfits and a tribute to the backstage crew who succeeded in bringing both running water and hair-driers to the set!