INTERVIEW: An inside look at the heartbreak and humor of Steel Magnolias
05/08–05/17 @ Schenectady Civic Playhouse, Schenectady
Photos by Willie Short
“I think we can all relate to love, grief, and finding strength through community. If we're lucky, we have a few good friends to ‘laugh through the tears’ with along the way.”
They’re delicate as flowers and as hard as metal; Steel Magnolias depicts a rarely seen side of womanhood as the characters deal with devastating loss, hilarious mishaps, and celebrate the joy of new beginnings. Since its inception in 1987, the timeless story has captivated audiences, and it will live on at the Schenectady Civic Playhouse from May 8–17.
“I feel that this story is about relationships,” says Director Kelly Sienkiewicz. “I think that’s why it’s such a relevant story today, despite being set in the ‘80s. We see a variety of relationships, including a mother-daughter dynamic, lifelong best friends, a mentor-mentee pairing that turns familial, and how all of these women support one another through life. It really shows the strength of women.”
Schenectady Civic Playhouse’s production is directed by Kelly Sienkiewicz, produced by Laura Graver, and features Brigid Beck as Annelle, Amanda Conlon as Truvy, Jennifer Schnurr as Shelby, Joan Horgan as M'Lynn, Melissa Putterman Hoffman as Clairee, and Carol Charniga as Ouiser.
“At its heart, it's a story about the human experience,” says Conlon. “I think we can all relate to love, grief, and finding strength through community. If we're lucky, we have a few good friends to ‘laugh through the tears’ with along the way.”
Steel Magnolias is set in a small Louisiana town, where the friendships between a tight-knit group of women help them to find laughter, solace, and strength. The story and the character of Shelby were inspired by Susan Harling-Robinson, the author's sister.
“Steel Magnolias doesn’t shy away from the fragile, difficult parts of life,” notes Beck. “In fact, it embraces them. Knowing Robert Harling based characters on real women he was close to makes a lot of sense as you start going through the script. Our dialogue may well be formed from sentences he heard women say in real life.”
Beck, who is originally from Texas, says she feels 'in her soul' the play’s representation of Southern women, who reflect her own life experiences and the women she grew up with. Her first out-of-state trip was to Louisiana, and revisiting the state, even onstage, has been a full-circle moment.
This production holds a particular sentimental meaning for the entire cast and crew. Not only did Graver herself play Annelle at Curtain Call Theater a decade ago, but Graver's best friend Schnurr is now playing Shelby. The friendships both on- and off-stage break the fourth wall in a way that they describe as ‘beautiful.’
The cast acknowledges their director, Sinekiewicz, for providing the atmosphere that allows these natural female friendships to thrive. “Kelly Sinekiewicz has such a lovely, light hand,” praises Putterman Hoffman. “She helps us to navigate the story where, even when it isn’t written in the script, people will still feel the depth of those relationships.
“These have been long-time entrenched friendships. Even with the sadness in the second act, you see that they are going to go on.”
Putterman Hoffmann has a history with the theater since she was 14 years old and recalls the Schenectady Civic Playhouse performing Steel Magnolias in the 1980s. Playing a part in such an enduring piece of theater has been a special opportunity for her and the entire cast, who have each found a relatable aspect to their characters.
“To portray female friendships and womanhood as anything other than nuanced would be a loss,” says Beck. “But what’s really special about this show is it shows six different women who are strong in six different ways. And it also shows you how six different women find it in themselves to continue loving one another, even when it’s hard.”
Robert Harling purposefully had the play take place in a beauty salon, believing that was a space where women feel comfortable sharing their thoughts and feelings with each other. Plays like Steel Magnolias, where women have the opportunity to freely express themselves and their thoughts, are still few in number.
“Even today, the percentage of plays that pass the Bechdel Test is low,” says Conlon. “Women are still underrepresented in theatre and often written as one-dimensional tropes. The more we can share complex, nuanced stories of women's lived experiences, the better we all are for it.”
As the characters navigate love, death, family struggles, and health challenges, their bond reminds them and the audience of the power of love, friendship, and how to support one another during life’s best and worst moments.
“We have a wonderful cast of women and each one is bringing so much to the show,” says Graver. “I hope that the audience takes away a full feeling in their heart and that they just witnessed so much love up there and feel it in the audience.”
For tickets and more info., visit https://www.civicplayers.org/