Review: STEEL MAGNOLIAS at The Chatham Playhouse

The Chatham Players Proudly Presents Steel Magnolias by Robert Harling. It is the bittersweet story of six women who gather at Truvy's Beauty Salon in Chinquapin, Louisiana in 1987. Through four scenes spanning three years, the staff and customers engage in small-town gossip, laughter, recipes and beauty secrets, but we see a deep strength emerge when tragedy strikes. Steel Magnolias is a heartwarming portrait of friendship and love.

This very talented, all female cast of "Steel Magnolias" are Nicole Boscarino as Shelby Eatenton-Latcherie, Anna Cave as Truvy Jones, Erin Feith as Annelle Dupuy-Desoto, Barbara Haag as Clairee Belcher, Lynn Langone as M'lynn Eatenton and Jodi Freeman Maloy as Ouiser Boudreaux. There is a strong and beautiful chemistry between all of the women onstage, which is vital to a show such as this. It is almost as if the audience is watching best friends live their everyday lives together. The women had the audience both laughing and crying. The set for this production deserves high praise as the stage was transformed into Truvy's Beauty Salon with an actual functioning salon sink as well as hot hair tools. This show is not to be missed!

Lynn Langone explained that the show is actually based on a true story, "It was written by the sister's brother... I'm from Kentucky, so I know southern characters and he so captured these southern women... Growing up in a small town in Kentucky, he captured that perfectly and this is such a great group of women that it was so easy to create that bond ourselves."

The production team includes Director Jeffrey Fiorello, Producer Eileen Johnston, Production Coordinator Steffi Denmark, Stage Manager Pam Wilczynski, Scenic Designers Roy Pancirov & Bob Lukasik, Costume Designers Bev Wand & Andrea Sickler, Props and Set Decorators Kate Pierce and Tish Lum and Lighting Designer Kevin Ohlweiler. Original music is composed and performed by the Sound Designer, Joe DeVico.

Remaining performance dates are March 9th and 10th at 8pm. All performances are at the Chatham Playhouse, 23 North Passaic Avenue, in Chatham. Tickets are $25 for adults and $23 for youth/senior

Tickets can be purchased at our Box Office or Online. To access the theater's new online ticketing service, where you can now reserve your particular seat, go to https://ccp.booktix.com/ and visit http://www.chathamplayers.org/.

The Chatham Playhouse is located at 23 North Passaic Avenue, Chatham, NJ 07928-2525. Call them at (973) 635-7363.

Next on stage at The Chatham Playhouse: "Grease" May 4, 5, 10, 11, 12, 17 18 and 19 at 8:00pm and May 12, 13 and 19 at 3pm.

Photo Credit: Courtesy of Chatham Playhouse

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