There for each other through joy and tragedy (South End Theatre Society)

Nov 10

3 min read

203

Steel Magnolias

Written by Robert Harling

Produced by South End Theatre Society

Review by Regina Harris

Theater kids, listen up! There's a new kid in town called the South End Theatre Society, (great name, btw) and they're making waves in the local theater scene. In a city, chock full of worthy theater companies, SETS was conceived of a mere 10 months ago by a handful of people. These community members, seasoned veterans and impassioned volunteers brought an entire theatre company and production together from soup to nuts lightning fast (by theatre standards) without missing a beat.

Their recent production of Steel Magnolias was a strong and assured. The performances were heartfelt and genuine, with each actor bringing their character to life in a way that was both touching and memorable. The direction was sharp, ensuring that the pacing of the play kept the audience engaged from start to finish. The set design was beautifully crafted, perfectly capturing the charm and warmth of a small-town beauty salon, in which the entirety of the story takes place. The women of this Chinquapin Parish, Louisiana are there for each other through both joyous moments and times of tragedy, and they aren’t afraid to call each other out when necessary. The friends come and go, weaving the story of their lives over a period of years.

As sassy salon owner Truvy, Danica London rendered a lively and engaging performance. Though her lines were delivered with confidence, they were, at moments a bit rushed, likely due to opening night jitters. As Claree, Missy Calloway brought an elegance and charm worthy of the town's former First Lady. Michelle Lori’s M’Lynn was both graceful and steady, beautifully capturing the essence of a traditional and very patient Southern mother of a spirited daughter. As M’Lynn’s daughter Shelby, Allie Jo Hail embodied strong will despite fragile health. Hale’s performance was spot on, though at times some dialogue was difficult to understand due to sound issues- particularly when lines were delivered with her back to the audience or her head lowered. Even so she gave the audience a warm and endearing Shelby.

In an otherwise exceptional ensemble, there were a couple of standouts. Ouiser, the grumpy gardener with a heart of gold, was expertly played by Tiffany Carpenter-Hopper, who brought much-needed comedy relief with her expertly timed zingers. Lastly, Aubrey Brumley as Anelle brought innocence, sincerity and palpable nervousness to Anelle, a young woman new to the community and facing the scrutiny of the Old Guard.

Given that the story takes place in a deeply southern town, all the actresses adopted Southern accents. While the accents were fitting, the sound system at the JCTC Southwest campus could benefit from an update. At times, dialogue was difficult to understand due to muffled audio, and moving around the theater offered little improvement. This issue did not stem from the sound designer or the actors. Hopefully, JCTCS will find the opportunity to enhance its sound system before the next production.

If laughter through tears is your favorite emotion, be sure to keep South End Theatre Society on your radar – this company is clearly one to watch. Their talent, commitment and heart are undeniable, and their future productions are likely to sell out fast. SETS will quickly become one of our city’s most compelling the theatrical voices.

Steel Magnolias South End Theatre Society

November 8 & 9 7:30 pm

November 9 2:00 pm

JCTC Southwest

1000 Community College Drive,

Louisville, KY 40272

www.southendts.org