Written by Robert Harling in 1987, originally as a coping mechanism to deal with the death of his sister, Steel Magnolias is far from the gloomy narrative one might expect. Instead, the play, offers a laugh-a-minute glimpse into the lives of six Southern women living in a small fictional community in Louisiana.
These women have formed a strong bond and regularly gather in Truvy’s hairdressing salon where they challenge and comfort each other while sharing the minutiae of their daily lives, which when the play opens, is focussed on the upcoming wedding of Shelby, who’s engaged in a combative relationship with her mental health counsellor mother, M’Lynn about details of her wedding.
Harling’s play became an audience favourite majorly due to the 1989 film which starred Julia Roberts, Sally Field, Shirley MacLaine, Olympia Dukakis, Dolly Parton and Daryl Hannah.
Many of us treasure memories of the original 1988 Australian stage production in which Nicole Kidman made her stage debut as Shelby in a cast that included Nancye Hayes, Maggie Dence, Melissa Jaffer, Genevieve Lemon and Pat McDonald.
Many others have become familiar with the play through the numerous community theatre productions around the country over the years.
For this national tour, Producers Neil Gooding and Alex Woodward have mounted a terrific production of this play, for which they gifted director Lee Lewis, known for her meticulous eye for detail and nuance, with the challenge of captivating a new generation of audiences.
Lewis’ response has been to devise a visually beautiful production with set and costumes by Simone Romaniuk, and cast it with some of the country’s best known and accomplished actresses in Lisa McCune, Belinda Giblin, Debra Lawrance, Mandy Bishop, Jessica Redmayne and Lotte Beckett, all of whom have grasped the opportunity to create fresh, memorable characterisations destined to remain in the memories of all who experience them.
Mandy Bishop, well-known for her many years delighting audiences with her chameleon-like ability to inhabit multiple characterisations in the Wharf Revues, plays the warm-hearted, Truvy, owner of the salon, confidant and keeper of the secrets.
Sporting an outrageous blonde wig and deep Southern accent, Bishop resists the temptation to offer a cheap caricature of Dolly Parton. Instead, she invests her role with a myriad of detail to create a delightfully funny and compelling character around whom much of the action revolves.
Lotte Beckett plays the mysterious young hair stylist, Annelle, who Truvy has just employed. Annelle’s emergence from shy introvert to confident born-again Christian is charmingly and believably portrayed by Beckett.
Portraying Shelby, the young bride struggling with the effects of Type 1 diabetes, Jessica Redmayne charms with her optimistic enthusiasm. As the effects of her condition become more noticeable, Shelby’s enthusiasm frustrates her stylish, uptight mother, M’Lynn, in a superbly modulated and moving performance by Lisa McCune, which reaches its zenith in a fierce outburst by M’Lynn, prefacing the funniest scene in the play.
Rounding out a superb cast, Jane Phegan on opening night replacing Debra Lawrence and Belinda Giblin portray two frenemies, Clairee and Ouiser, who disguise their deep affection for each other under a constant barrage of hilarious barbs.
Part of the joy of this production is watching these prodigiously talented actors exercise their own and each other’s skills to create powerful, engaging moments capable of reducing their audience to a favourite place revealed by Truvy’s at one point – laughter through tears.
Steel Magnolias
Canberra Theatre – Canberra Theatre Centre, Civic Square, Canberra
Performance: Thursday 18 June 2026
Season continues to 21 June 2026
Bookings: www.canberratheatrecentre.com.au
Following the Canberra season, Steel Magnolias will play Perth’s His Majesty’s Theatre from 7 July, and Melbourne’s Athenaeum Theatre from 23 July 2026. For more information, visit: www.steelmagnoliasplay.com.au for details.
Images: Debra Lawrance, Belinda Giblin and Lisa McCune in Steel Magnolias – photo by Brett Boardman | Jessica Redmayne, Belinda Giblin, Lisa McCune, Mandy Bishop, Lotte Beckett and Debra Lawrance in Steel Magnolias – photo by Brett Boardman | Jessica Redmayne and Lisa McCune in Steel Magnolias – photo by Brett Boardman
Review: Bill Stephens OAM