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 and buy tickets, visit the website here.
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