Steel Magnolias
They may look as delicate as flowers, but the women of Steel Magnolias are built to withstand far more than they let on. Arriving at the Athenaeum Theatre this July, a star-studded cast of Australian stage and screen favourites comes together for this new production of Robert Harling’s beloved play about friendship, resilience and life inside a small-town beauty salon.
Set in Truvy’s Louisiana salon – where everyone knows everyone’s business and hairspray may as well replace oxygen – Steel Magnolias follows a tight-knit group of women as they navigate life’s trials and tribulations, from weddings and babies to heartbreak and loss. At the centre is Shelby, a young woman with diabetes determined to have a child despite the risks to her health, and her mother, M’Lynn. What unfolds is a razor-sharp comedy of friendship but also a devastatingly candid story about illness, sacrifice and the bonds that hold people together.
Directed by Lee Lewis, expect a balance of humour and heartbreak, with a witty script that doesn't shy away from the tough stuff. The six-woman ensemble is led by Lisa McCune, alongside Belinda Giblin, Debra Lawrance, Mandy Bishop, Jessica Redmayne and Lotte Beckett – a powerhouse ensemble that will bring new life to a story that has endured for decades since the film was first released in 1989.
Part of a national tour across Australia, the production arrives in Melbourne for a limited season at the Athenaeum Theatre from July 23 to August 9. To find out more...