“A funny, nostalgic retelling of Robert Harling’s famous play”
Steel Magnolias (1989), based on the 1987 play by Robert Harling, is one of my all-time favourite films. Depicting an intimate, funny friendship between six women in Louisiana, and inspired by the death of Harling’s sister Susan as a result of complications from Type 1 diabetes, the film is both heartwarming and devastating. So, naturally, when I heard that the OSO Arts Centre in south-west London was putting on a production of Steel Magnolias, I lunged at the opportunity to watch it!
It absolutely paid off. Steel Magnolias is every bit as deliciously sarcastic and sugary sweet as we all know it to be! We get to hear the fabulously memorable lines, e.g. “There’s no such thing as natural beauty” (Truvy Jones) and “I’m not crazy. I’ve just been in a very bad mood for forty years” (Ouiser Boudreaux). The distinctive personality of each character shines brightly, so they are all easy to connect with. While the film shows us a multitude of characters and colourful locations, this play strips all that away; instead, we see the six protagonists in one room, examining their lives and relationships with each other.
I was pleasantly surprised to find that Joanna Strafford, playing the strange young Christian fundamentalist Annelle Dupuy-DeSoto, delivered my favourite performance of the night! Annelle’s shy, fly-on-the-wall demeanour tends to be squashed by the cheekiness of Clairee Belcher (Zoë Ann Bown) and the iconically sharp tongue of Ouiser Boudreaux (Robin Miller). For Strafford to infuse Annelle with double the eccentricity, in both her elongated Southern-accented vowels and bewildered facial expressions, this is really an incredible achievement!
Nova Skipp, who is also producing this play under Skipp Productions, portrays stoic matriarch M’Lynn Eatenton. She brings to this role an incredible sense of maternity. Her chemistry with Isabella Heaver, playing M’Lynn’s feisty daughter Shelby, is fantastic to watch. All the actors succeed in creating a sense of community and laughter, delivering the largely older audience the nostalgia of the film and the time period. Truvy’s (Kate Harbour) salon, where the play is set, is cleverly designed to be both bright and homely, and Harbour’s enthusiastic performance fits this very well.
Steel Magnolias is a wonderful play. All the actors tug at our heartstrings, bringing the laughter and tears that make Harling’s story so memorable.
Steel Magnolias is running at the OSO Arts Centre from April 14 to April 18, 2026.