Steel Magnolias
at Dana Hills

Reviewed on October 26, 2019

Samantha Stokes
Crean Lutheran
Submitted for publication to OC Cappies

Dana Hills' "Steel Magnolias" shows the beauty of an uplifting community
written by Samantha Stokes, a junior at Crean Lutheran High School

Filled with the gossip, banter, and hardships of the women in Truvy's beauty salon, Dana Hills' "Steel Magnolias" captures what it means to stand united as a strong, uplifting, and loving community.

The story opens with a young newcomer named Annelle (Amelia Bellah) is applying for a position as a hairdresser at Truvy's beauty salon. Nervous and hesitant, Annelle is initially skeptical of the unusual lifestyle of the town, but soon comes out of her shell as she opens up to the ladies of the salon. Contrasting Annelle's dubious attitude is the exuberant Truvy (Audrey Parker). Parker embodies Truvy's spicy, yet sweet, manner with precision and ease. Her saucy attitude is complemented by an impressively consistent Southern accent, making the setting of the show quite clear.

The resident curmudgeon of the town, Ouiser, is brilliantly played by Rachel Kupfer-Weinstein. As she forcefully stomps into the salon, slamming the door behind her, Kupfer-Weinstein makes it clear that Ouiser is not a woman you want to heckle with. Ouiser's sharp demeanor is complemented by Clairee (Natalie Pearl), the former first lady of the town. As Clairee, Pearl skillfully exemplifies the wit and sassiness of the character, never failing to brighten the most dismal of moments with her dark sense of humor.

When Shelby (Natalie Creech), the prettiest girl in town, is getting married, she becomes the talk of the town and the center of gossip in Truvy's beauty salon. Through her relaxed tone and physicality, Creech creates a contrast between herself and the older women in the salon, distinguishing her youth and free-spirited manner. Her mother, M'Lynn (Kendall Santos) is a wise and educated woman that attempts to reason with Shelby regarding her daring decisions. As M'Lynn, Santos composes herself with poise and calmness, embodying a motherly presence in the salon.

The costumes are beautifully done by Makenzie Kruger and Christina Sleek. Each costume fits the fashion style of the time period and complements the character's personality. In addition to this, the costumes wonderfully match the set (by Natalie Pearl) and props (by Kendall Santos and Christina Sleek), creating a color palette that is teeming with florals, pinks, purples, and blues.

Combining the efforts of skilled technical teams and wonderful actors, Dana Hills' "Steel Magnolias" shows us the beauty behind creating a supportive, tight-knit community.

Kat Cheng
Crean Lutheran
Submitted for publication to OC Cappies Facebook

Dana Hills High School's "Steel Magnolias" is Full of Heart and Hairdos
written by Kat Cheng, a sophomore at Crean Lutheran High School

Taking place in the northwestern Louisiana parish of Chinquapin, Dana Hills' stirring performance of "Steel Magnolias" tells the story of a group of women who converge at a local beauty parlor every Saturday. Over the course of three years, the six women each deal with their own conflicts but ultimately become stronger and form lasting bonds of friendship.

The owner of Truvy's Beauty Spot, Truvy (Audrey Parker), is a fast-paced woman who will not let her age damper her spunk. Parker lights up the stage with her confident energy and articulate hand movements as she styles clients' hair and hunger for gossip. Though some actresses lack power and volume, Parker does not disappoint with her bold Southern accent and sassy strut around the salon.

Two of Truvy's clients, Clariee (Natalie Pearl) and Ouiser (Rachel Kupfer-Weinstein) work together to developing a teasing, yet caring friendship with one another. Pearl uses a straight-backed posture and gentle smile to create a motherly disposition that contrasts with Kupfer-Weinstein's constantly crossed arms and disgruntled frowns. Both actresses, however, do well in portraying their characters as sassy but classy.

The set, designed by Natalie Pearl, uses soft pink walls and faded seats to capture the welcoming feel of Truvy's self-run 80's style salon. Pearl's design includes a sink with running water and a functioning electrical outlet that allows the actresses to access functions of a genuine salon. When Christmas comes around, Pearl uses small set additions like string lights and paper chains to give the salon a festive feel.

Costumes by Christina Sleek and Mackenzie Kruger excellently portray the characters' ages and stages of life through various styles of clothing and hair. Young Shelby's (Natalie Creech) character development from a fiancé to a mother is reflected by her increasingly mature styles of dress and hair throughout the scene progressions. Salon-worker Annelle's (Amelia Bellah) transition from shorts and sneakers to a modest dress and heels indicates her newfound Christian lifestyle.

Sound designer Steven Mayo works together with props (Kendall Santos and Katie Webb) to cleverly use faded 80's music and recorded radio station audio to bring a prop radio to life. Stage Manager Andrew Guthary keeps cues sharp and scene changes smooth, effectively portraying Mayo's sound choices.

With a charming cast and commendable technical design, Dana Hills tells the endearing story of six women's struggles and reminds us about the importance of friendship.

Ryan Puterbaugh
Beckman
Submitted for publication to OC Cappies Facebook

Style and Strength at Dana Hills' 'Steel Magnolias'
written by Ryan Puterbaugh, a senior at Beckman High School

No matter what struggles life throws at them, true friends stick together to the end. In Chinquapin, Louisiana, six women meet regularly in a hair salon over the course of a few years, and though each of them undergoes significant challenges and changes, their underlying friendship perseveres, uniting them through their shared gossip, values, and experiences. In Dana Hills High School's production of "Steel Magnolias," such close kinship overcomes every obstacle it encounters, from deep-seeded personal development to death.

The hair salon's owner, Truvy (Audrey Parker), bustles with energy in every scene, welcoming her friends and customers and immediately striking up a conversation. Parker fully embodies her Louisiana accent, letting its rapid changes in pitch and speed guide her physicality. From emphatic gestures to hurried scampering across the room to greet a friend, Parker's mannerisms energize every moment she is on stage.

Two of the salon's regular patrons, Ouiser (Rachel Kupfer-Weinstein) and Clairee (Natalie Pearl), bring humor to the production through their witty banter and quick remarks. At all points in the show, even after the death of their friend Shelby (Natalie Creech), these two speak and move purposefully but lightly, alleviating the tension in the salon that arises from every new piece of gossip.

The entire play takes place in a single hair salon, and the set, designed by Natalie Pearl, captures the 1980s aesthetic perfectly. It features an appropriate hooded hair dryer, as well as a functioning sink for hair washing. Props managers Kendall Santos and Katie Webb fill the set with period items, from bottles of hair products to an array of nail polishes to magazines for waiting customers. The six actresses make full use of every prop and every part of the set, making the hair salon come to life in an immersive, believable way.

Costume designers Mackenzie Kruger and Christina Sleek make bold choices to emphasize changes in mood throughout the story. At Christmas, for example, everyone wears festive reds, whites, and greens. After Shelby's death, everyone wears black. However, the most drastic change occurs in Annelle (Amelia Bellah), who begins as a shy newcomer with jean shorts and a flannel shirt but gradually becomes a passionate Christian with a conservative dress and cardigan.

In Dana Hills' "Steel Magnolias," life-changing personal developments and life-ending tragic accidents are not enough to uproot six women's enduring friendship.