Steel yourself for ‘Magnolias'

There’s only one set for “Steel Magnolias” — Truvy’s beauty parlor.
   The Permian Playhouse is set to perform the drama about life and relationships between six women who meet to share their lives at the local beauty shop. It’s a unique play, one director Chad Cazee said he hopes will draw people in to see something familiar before moving to see other productions later in the year.
   “We’re really trying to build our audiences up, and ‘Grease’ helped get us through the summer by offering something people know well,” he said.
   Unlike the film version, all of the play takes place in the beauty shop and men are only talked about, not introduced. Cazee said there is something special about the focus on the beauty shop.
   “There is a sense this is a place they can be themselves. It’s neutral, and they always come back here,” he said.
   Barbara Iglehart, who plays Ouiser, said she has seen the play before and found it funny even with its sometimes serious subject matter. The play is based upon the real family of the playwright, particularly the loss of a sister, which Iglehart said intrigues her. She said it’s easy to imagine actually being the characters during practice.
   “We can talk about the character as if we were the character, discuss what we think they would do,” Iglehart said.
   Iglehart said the relationships in the play are real and meaningful because of the true love that exists despite the kidding around that takes place. In the process, a lesson can be learned.
   “Life goes on. When bad things happen, people can make it through with friends and family. Hope is there,” she said.
   Eleanor Katz plays Shelby in the production and said the play has been fun because of how all the ladies in the cast make it exciting.
   “You’d think there would be high drama with six women, but it’s been fun — like we’re all really going to Truvy’s hair salon,” Katz said.
   She said the play rings home to all kinds of women.
   “Every woman has that group of girlfriends we then see as a kind of support system,” Katz said.

STEEL MAGNOLIAS
   >> Permian Playhouse has scheduled the play “Steel Magnolias” at 8 p.m. today (Friday) and Saturday and 2:30 p.m. Sunday, with the same times for Oct. 16 through Oct. 18 as well. Tickets cost $12 for adults, $10 for students, seniors and groups of eight or more people and $7 for children under the age of 12.

   CAST
   >> Clairee Belcher: D'Alice Belanger.
   >> Ouiser Boudreaux: Barbara Iglehart.
   >> Annelle Dupuy-Desoto: Catherine Collins.
   >> Shelby Eatenton-Latcherie: Eleanor Katz.
   >> M'Lynn Eatenton: Kathy York Hollmann.
   >> Truvy Jones: Amber McDonald.