Review: Stage Door’s ‘Steel Magnolias’ remains a steadfast crowd-pleaser 

It’s probably safe to say that many of the people who know of Steel Magnolias do so either because of the star-studded 1989 film or the similarly big-name 2012 TV version. Yet, it was a play first. A perennial staple at theaters around the world, the show is now being staged by Dunwoody’s Stage Door Theatre in an enjoyable version directed by Jaclyn Hofmann, running through April 19. 

Set in the late 1980s, the play takes place entirely in the home/beauty parlor of Truvy Jones (Brittani Minnieweather) in Chinquapin, Louisiana. She has recently hired Annelle Dupuy-DeSoto (Molly Penny), a young woman dealing with a personal crisis of her own, to work with her on the hair of clients throughout the parish. Truvy and Annelle are prepping for the wedding of Shelby Eatenton (Alejandra Ruiz), a young nurse, and Shelby’s mother M’Lynn (Betsy Graver). Joining them in getting ready for the nuptials are fellow friends Clairee Belcher (Christy Baggett), the widow of the town’s former mayor, and Ouiser Boudreaux (Tiffany Porter), who has developed a rather earned reputation as the town grump. 

Robert Harling’s comedy/drama/tragedy is based on the death of his beloved sister. He wrote his original remembrance as a short story but later turned into a play, which debuted in 1987 off-Broadway at the WPA Theatre and transferred to the Lucille Lortel Theatre, where it ran for more than two and a half years with a cast that included Margo Martindale as Truvy.  A national cast later starred June Lockhart.

Steel Magnolias has attracted many household names because of its plum roles. The 1989 Herbert Ross film drew Sally Field, Julia Roberts, Dolly Parton, Daryl Hannah, Olympia Dukakis and Shirley MacLaine, and the 2013 TV version — directed by Atlanta’s Kenny Leon — starred, among others, Phylicia Rashad, Alfre Woodard, Jill Scott and Queen Latifah. As well, a short-lived 2005 Broadway version had a dreamy ensemble consisting of Rebecca Gayheart, Lily Rabe, Marsha Mason, Christine Ebersole, Frances Sternhagen and Delta Burke. 

Director Hofmann has a nice handle on the work here. It can be easy for performers to overdo these characters or have the accents go thick and overboard, and this does not happen in Stage Door’s production. Hofmann has — for the most part — cast the production tightly and produced some restrained performances. And Jenni Baldwin’s set is period appropriate and proves to be homey and relaxed. 

Truvy is the play’s warm center, and Minnieweather effortlessly brings that out. She’s a charismatic presence, a good listener and someone who genuinely seems to enjoy bringing people together. Likewise, Penny brings nuance to the role of the new hire Annelle, trying to figure out her own marriage woes, while Ruiz is quite believable and sad as Shelby, wanting to listen to what her mother says about her future but wanting to do things her own way. 

As Clairee, Baggett brings a dry, subtle sense of humor to the role and has many of the show’s best laughs. 

The character of M’Lynn has been something of a straight man to everyone else and can get lost a little. That’s somewhat true here, but to her credit, Graver does have a great climactic sequence trying to understand what has happened to her daughter.  

The only real disappointment is Porter, who never truly comes to life in the difficult role of Ouiser. 

Since the fall of 2021, Justin Ball has been heading up Stage Door as the company’s producing artistic director, and the offerings I’ve seen have been solid. Last year, I enjoyed the drama Cry It Out, which featured outstanding, Suzi award-winning support from Cara Mantella. 

Steel Magnolias feels a bit dated at this point. And while Harling’s intent was to mix the heavier dramatic moments with comedy, sometimes the goings-on get broad. But it still works and remains an ode to friendship and resilience. The production closes Stage Door’s 52^nd season on a satisfying, crowd-pleasing note. 

Where & When

Steel Magnolias is at Stage Door Theatre through April 19. Tickets, $32 with discounts available.
5339 Chamblee Dunwoody Rd.

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Jim Farmer is the recipient of the 2022 National Arts and Entertainment Journalism Award for Best Theatre Feature and a nominee for Online Journalist of the Year. A member of five national critics’ organizations, he covers theater and film for ArtsATL. A graduate of the University of Georgia, he has written about the arts for 30-plus years. Jim is the festival director of Out on Film, Atlanta’s LGBTQ film festival, and lives in Avondale Estates with his husband Craig.