Steel Magnolias
at Robert E. Lee High School

Reviewed on November 14, 2015

Julia Sienkiewicz
Walt Whitman High School
Submitted for publication to Washington Post - Fairfax

A businesswoman. A NICU nurse. A political widow turned entrepreneur. A mental health counselor. All resilient, driven women with the might needed to face all of life's challenges. The characters in Robert Harling's Steel Magnolias were written with the strength and power that Harling desperately needed after the death of his sister. These Southern women are not the traditional "good time girls" whose only aspirations are for marriage. They are breadwinners; they are mothers and grandmothers; they are forces of nature like no other, keeping their families and community thriving.

Steel Magnolias was written as way for playwright Robert Harling to cope with the death of his sister. The plot revolves around fictionalized versions of his mother (M'Lynn) and sister (Shelby), opening with the day of Shelby's wedding and closing shortly after her death. All of life is examined and discussed each Saturday morning, where the women of the neighborhood have standing appointments at Truvy's beauty salon. Other regulars include Ouiser, the local grump, and Clairee, the widow of a former mayor. Throughout Shelby's health complications her determination is present to the last. These women are strong, not solely because of their internal strength. The power they draw from their support network is an essential message of the play: you are never alone.

The capstones of the cast in Robert E. Lee High School's performance, M'Lynn (Ellie Milewski) and Shelby (Remy Thompson), require exceptional skill to portray the struggles of a mother who isn't yet ready to let her daughter handle her problems on her own, and a daughter who is yearning for a freedom that her body doesn't provide her. The actresses did not disappoint. Their chemistry formed a poignant and sadly transient mother-daughter relationship. Thompson's Shelby was lively and youthful, while Milewski's maturity was remarkable for a teenager dealing with such incredibly complicated issues.

The supporting cast as a whole was strong and responsibly played, both in their established relationships with each other as well as developing new ones with newcomer Annelle. The dynamic energy of Bethel Elias as Clairee made her interactions with all members of the ensemble a joy to watch. Her southern accent and forceful attitude never wavered, making her an essential piece of the supporting cast. Skyler Estrella's Annelle was adorable, coming out of her shell as an uncertain and desperate young girl to develop into a self-assured woman. Estrella's character transformation from each scene was a gauge of the passage of time.

The set, polished and realistic, was in period and immediately set the tone for the play. Although transitions were lengthy, the attention to detail of the set crew and costumes crew helped to effectively convey the passage of time.

As Robert Harling wrote this play to give him the strength to cope with his sister's demise, so the ladies of Chinquapin County draw strength from each other. The cast of Robert E. Lee High School's drew their strength from each other to create an engaging performance, drawing the audience into the world of these women, captivating them with their joy, heartbreak, and dreams.

Cecily Wolfe
Flint Hill School
Submitted for publication to Washington Post - Fairfax

"There is no such thing as natural beauty," said the sign on the back wall of Truvy's Beauty Salon. While there may be some truth in that, one should also take this slogan with a grain of salt. After all, is there not natural beauty in laughter and in friendship? That was up to the audience to decide once the play Steel Magnolias began at Robert E. Lee High School.

Written by Robert Harling, Steel Magnolias premiered off-Broadway on March 28, 1987, and went on to enjoy an iconic film adaption in 1989 and a brief five-month run on Broadway in 2005. A tribute to Harling's sister, who died of type-one diabetes, Steel Magnolias is a wonderful story set in the 1980s about six Louisianan women of all different ages and perspectives who gather at Truvy's Beauty Spot, looking for gossip and reassurance as they move through both joyful and tragic stages in their lives.

The six young women from Lee High School handled this delicate balance between comedy and drama with exceptional maturity. Ellie Milewski (M'Lynn) embodied a constantly anxious mother, interspersing a rational tone with the slightly strained quaver. By allowing her placid appearance to sometimes slip during moments of disbelief and grief, Milewski easily conveyed those times when she was putting on a brave face, even as grief and worry consumed her. The relationship between Milewski and Remy Thompson (Shelby), her daughter, was quite realistic. Milewski acted the collected, experienced, albeit somewhat overbearing, mother, while Thompson characterized Shelby through with a flighty nature and enthusiastic naiveté, painting the picture of a young woman who still had not fully let go of her girlish fantasies.

While these two shared tense arguments and affectionate hugs and looks, other actresses helped to bring levity to such serious situations. Michele Zelaya (Truvy) ran her beauty salon with flair, always ready to raise an eyebrow over the latest gossip or assert her opinions on everything from marriage to the best nail polish color. Acting largely as a foil to her flamboyant boss, Skyler Estrella (Annelle) adeptly transitioned from an awkward teenage girl too shy to look people in the eye to a daring young woman then on to a devout religious convert who prayed at the drop of a hat. Kiana Burch's (Ouiser) gruff and abrasive manner as the neighborhood misanthrope highlighted her shift into a more compassionate person as she softened her words and personality. Finally, Bethel Elias (Clairee) fully committed to her role as an older, yet no less classy or spirited, Southern woman. Her slow drawl, stately gait, and quick-witted jabs demonstrated her confidence and commitment to Clairee's laid-back and humorous outlook.

Aspects such as the lighting, makeup, and sound mirrored the tone of the scenes and differentiated among characters. Though the lighting largely remained the same throughout, the bright fluorescent lights of the beauty parlor added an element of constancy to the continually changing dynamics among the women. In contrast, makeup ranged from shades of bright pink to barely there, and incorporated subtle changes in keeping with each character's age and preferences. The occasional song reflected both upbeat and poignant moments.

Overall, Robert E. Lee High School's production of Steel Magnolias was a moving rendition of this classic. The composure of these six young women and their hilarious yet heartbreaking conversations with each other reminded the audience that, as Shelby says, "Life goes on," and there will always be beauty in friendship and love.

Lydia Gompper
George Mason High School
Submitted for publication to FCPS Community News

The bonds formed between women - between mothers and daughters, sisters and friends - are seldom breakable. Together, women stand firm in the face of all of life's struggles, proving themselves to be "as delicate as magnolias, but as tough as steel." This strength was beautifully and touchingly illustrated in Robert E. Lee High School's production of "Steel Magnolias."

"Steel Magnolias," although perhaps best known for its adaptation into film in 1989, originated as a 1987 play by Robert Harling. Harling wrote the script as a representation of his own experiences with his sister's illness and eventual death, aiming to immortalize her character for the sake of his young nephew. The story revolves around the lives of six tight-knit Southern women over the course of two-and-a-half years, as Shelby, the strong-willed daughter of the protective M'Lynn, suffers medical complications after the birth of her child due to type one diabetes.

Robert E. Lee High School's production was simply staged, with every scene taking place within the confines of a one-room beauty salon. This allowed the small, all-female cast to demonstrate remarkable cohesiveness and emotional maturity utilizing only their own dialogue. Despite only a few technical difficulties, both the deeply poignant subtext of the show and the chuckle-worthy one-liners were well-executed. The performance felt natural, with the lovely relationships between the characters admirably established. Although the onstage energy occasionally dragged, the more riveting moments of the show were performed with both nuance and intensity.

The relationship between M'Lynn and Shelby (portrayed by senior Ellie Milewski and sophomore Remy Thompson, respectively) was incredibly well-developed. The audience watched as they evolved from being constantly at each other's throats, with Shelby in a state of rebellion against her mother's controlling nature, to understanding each other as equals. Thompson's character visibly matured throughout the performance, and not only because of her mid-show haircut. Through the birth of her child and her medical difficulties, she clearly left childhood behind and gained a new understanding of her mother's urge to shield her from harm. This growth allowed Thompson the opportunity for a multi-layered, intriguing performance. Milewski, meanwhile, delivered many of the most outstanding moments of the night. While she was certainly strong throughout the entire show, she shone most brightly during the second act, after Shelby's death. Her lengthy monologue, in which she described her daughter's final moments and reflected on the anger she felt for having her child taken from her, was breathtakingly beautiful and deeply stirring.

On the more comedic side, senior Bethel Elias had an excellent presence as Clairee, the aging widow of the town's late mayor. She executed her lines with elegant poise, epitomizing the descriptor "sassy and classy." Her one-liners rarely fell flat, and she served as a welcome relief from the production's heavy emotional content.

Robert E. Lee High School's production of "Steel Magnolias" was certainly a tear-jerker. Although simplistic - just six women talking in a beauty salon - it held deep wells of emotional resonance, and the performers handled the show's gravity with a grace beyond their years.

Anna Merrill
Teens and Theatre
Submitted for publication to Patch.com - Fairfax

Steel Magnolias is a tale for the ages; a quintessential story of female empowerment well-loved by women both young and old. What happens when a troupe of high school students takes on such a successful production? In the case of Robert E. Lee High School, the results were surprisingly uplifting.

Steel Magnolias premiered in 1987. The stage play began as a short story penned by Robert Harling to cope with the death of his sister, who had diabetes. The play, while a comedy in part, was also delicately written. Despite their ages, the actresses executed the play with both good humor and emotional sensitivity. The play, which takes place entirely in Truvy's Beauty Spot, follows six Southern women with complicated lives and strong personalities. The story centers on Shelby (Remy Thompson), who, like the author's sister, has diabetes. Shelby is young and enigmatic, and her ideas about what she wants in life often come into conflict with the ideas of her mother, M'Lynn (Ellie Milewski). The story runs a course of about three years, following the lives of Shelby, M'Lynn, and the other women who frequent the shop.

Thompson gave a solid performance as Shelby, proving herself to be both immensely likable and emotionally in-tune with the character. Milewski's portrayal of M'Lynn was incredibly strong, and despite her young years she had a stable, maternal presence. The mother-daughter dynamic between Milewski and Thompson was quite impressive, from their petty squabbling in the first act to M'Lynn's constant concern about her daughter's health. Both actresses played off of each other very well, each making each other's performance stronger.

As strong as Thompson and Milewski were both individually and together, the combined efforts and teamwork of the ensemble really brought the show together. Skyler Estrella, who played Annelle, did a great job portraying the character's evolution from timid newcomer to party girl to humble Christian. Bethel Elias provided the strongest comedic value as Clairee, and despite her young age, managed to capture the essence of her much older character. Although some actors stumbled over their lines, and there were some awkward pauses in the pacing, the ensemble was very strong overall. A prime example of this is the scene in Act I where Shelby goes into diabetic shock. Thompson captured the condition of her character, and the other five women reacted to the situation with such fear and urgency that the audience truly feared for Shelby's fate. In the final scene of the play, the tonal shift and sadness was so palpable that even those who weren't familiar with the story knew what was coming. M'Lynn's reaction to her daughter's death was definitely the emotional highlight of the play, played by Milewski with such rawness and honesty that one might believe she truly had lost a loved one. Although some actresses struggled with the Southern accents, as an ensemble they truly brought the story to life.

Truvy's Beauty Spot was brought to life on stage with a pastel pink-and-blue scheme, giving the at-times serious production an overall lighthearted feel. The production did struggle in certain technical aspects- the sound quality was lacking and actors' microphones cut out multiple times; the mid-act transitions were too long and crew members could be clearly seen and heard. However, the ensemble produced performances that were both funny and moving, sometimes concurrently so.

Although it may be a formidable task for teenagers to replicate such a classic production, the young actresses kept the audience thoroughly entertained, and with their strong wit and emotional intensity, they proved that they are definitely as strong as steel.

Carina Kiema
Fairfax High School
Submitted for publication to Connection

Flowers are soft and bright, a thing of natural beauty and delicacy. Juxtapose that with hard, strong, firm iron. It seems that these two could never mesh. But six Louisiana women will convince you otherwise. These "Steel Magnolias" are indeed delicate: "Southern Belles" even, but they are tough, and they are resilient even through the most trying and devastating circumstances.

Steel Magnolias, a comedy-drama written by Robert Harling, focuses on a group of Southern women in the small town of Chinquapin, Louisiana and their regular meetings at Truvy's beauty parlor. The play illustrates the bond between these six women, with a plot centered around M'Lynn's daughter Shelby and her upcoming marriage and pregnancy issues with Type-1 Diabetes. The play has two movie adaptations (1989 and 2012) and this weekend, was adapted by a six-person, all female cast at Robert E. Lee High School.

This play was filled with good energy and received its share of hearty laughs from an intrigued audience. The strong emotional reactions of some characters were outstanding and poignant.

Ellie Milewski's embodiment of M'Lynn was extraordinary. She came off as authentically maternal, creating a moving, genuine bond with Shelby. In the first act, Shelby goes into diabetic shock and M'Lynn's instantaneous aid and obvious distress made the ordeal so intense, that as an audience member, it almost felt intrusive to be looking on. Milewski displayed a confidence and maturity that is essential to playing an older woman, especially a mother.

Shelby, played by Remy Thompson, had an energy that made the youth of her character apparent. In contrast to the other characters, it is clear that Shelby is supposed to be a sweet, innocent young adult. Everything from the tone of her voice to her movements added to the portrayal of her character. Clairee, played by Bethel Elias, did not play too significant a role in the plot, but was a standout character onstage. Elias was relentlessly consistent in her accent and character, and her commitment to the role was awe-inspiring. Elias's comedic timing was so spot-on it seemed natural, relieving tension in even the most emotional of moments. It was easy to forget Elias was a high school student; her poise and simultaneous boldness were reminiscent of someone refined and sophisticated.

Some characters' costumes successfully portrayed their age and the time period, but others were inauthentic. The sound was slightly choppy at times, but worked well most of the show. The bright pink walls and warm lighting of the set added to the intimacy of the salon's atmosphere.

This play will definitely make you laugh; it may even bring to you to tears. But overall, this was a vibrant, entertaining play. These six young ladies were able to adapt this well-known piece into a fine show.

Alec Reusch
George Mason High School
Submitted for publication to Fairfax County Times

Steel Magnolias is both hilarious and depressing, both tragic and uplifting, and Robert E. Lee High School's production of the play was all of these.

Steel Magnolias takes place in Truvy's Beauty Salon in Chinquapin, Louisiana and focuses on the tight-knit community of women who work in it or frequent it. The play takes place over the course of a few years and is centered on the life of Shelby, who has diabetes, as she gets married and has a child, and her relationships with her mother, M'Lynn, and the other women of the small town. Sadly, Shelby passes away before the end of the story, and her family and closest friends must cope with it. The play was written by Robert Harling, and is based on the life and death of his sister. The title suggests that the women, although delicate as magnolias, are as tough as steel.

Robert E. Lee High School's production was engaging and enjoyable. The conversations between the characters as they gossiped or bickered flowed smoothly and naturally, and the emotional range achieved by the cast made the audience both laugh out loud and sit in heartfelt sadness, sometimes within seconds of each other. Intense moments were balanced out with comedic ones, creating an enjoyable overall experience.

The majority of the drama comes from the tension between Shelby, who wants to make her own decisions, and her mother, M'Lynn, who is concerned about Shelby's health. Remy Thompson (Shelby) and Ellie Milewski (M'Lynn) captured this dynamic relationship perfectly. Milewski especially did a wonderful job creating a believable mother character, which can be difficult for a high school student.

The other characters in the salon are what made the events interesting, both supplying individual, unique reactions to everything and working well collectively. Characters like the Salon's owner, Truvy (Michele Zelaya), became a natural part of the dialogue. Clairee (Bethel Elias) also created a memorable character, providing the most laughs. Especially in the first act, the pace was great, and other than a few stumbles over lines, the conversations flowed realistically and drew the audience in and kept them interested. The southern accents were slightly inconsistent, but not enough to distract from the words themselves.

The salon was a visually appealing set. Mirrors, sinks, and swiveling chairs brought the environment to life. More impressive than the stage itself was how the cast interacted with it. The use of props and stage business was fantastic and allowed everyone to stay in character even when not talking. The actresses' microphones had some difficulties, cutting out every once in a while, but were beneficial for the most part, making lines clear throughout the play.

Steel Magnolias is usually defined as a comedy-drama, and sometimes it is difficult for a cast to portray such varying emotions well, but Robert E. Lee High School did so, creating a solid and memorable performance.