Steel Magnolias Play Summary

The Shakespere Festival in Boise presented Steel Magnolias which was written by Robert Harling. The director of this fabulous play was Sari Ketter, and scenic designer was Gage Williams. The play is about a group of women who will soon discover what a true Steel Magnolia is. Even though none of them know it, by the end they will all have accomplished the standards it takes to be a true Steel Magnolia. A Steel Magnolia is being delicate like a flower but strong through friendship just like steel, because to be both is to be able to overcome anything.

The play starts off in the 1980’s in an over the top beauty parlor. Annel, a new worker for the beauty shop enters this Steel Magnolia clique that consists of only a few other women. The first woman

Shelby is a younger girl in this group that begins to show care and comfort towards Annel. She begins in being interested in this new worker who soon will be a good friend. As the talk and gossip with the friends begins the problem or major point of the story shows; Shelby passes out cold with a blink of an eye! The character has an illness (diabetes) and this is where it begins. A couple months pass by and Shelby end up pregnant which is bad because diabetes wasn’t really something doctors knew how to treat at the time so becoming pregnant could cause several complications. As the baby comes, Shelby becomes very sick, and this is where the “steel” in Steel Magnolias really shows, since now the girls will all show their true strength. Shelby now passes away and the girls again are in their shop of secrets grieving over Shelby’s loss. This shop has become their safety;

The set is a very 80’s themed salon; bright colors that POP. On the two sides more towards the front of the salon there are antique white miniature desks with a mirror connected for customers to see their fabulous locks. There is a bright pink radio that is brought in that sits on one of the desks. For the Christmas scene there is a Christmas tree in the far left back, and bells hung near each window. The walls are green with tiny white flowers delicately painted on them. There is a middle station between the two white desks and it has all the tools needed for any appointment. The floors had different colored tile looking squares that were soft brown and green colored. In the far back left there is a shampoo station that is fairly tiny. To the right of that are two hood dryers that have unique in an oval shape, and all of them are fuchsia pink. Behind each dryer is a window. The chairs in which the characters sit are also bright pink. In this salon there is no confidentiality; it is very