Paradise Players present 'Steel Magnolias'
Rashell Jones plays Truvy Jones, and Suzannah Lindsay plays Shelby Eatenton in the Paradise Players' production of "Steel Magnolias." (Tracy Scott/Valley Press)
Bonnie Firestone playing Clairee Belcher. (Tracy Scott/Valley Press)
Cast members Rashell Jones, Suzannah Lindsay, CeCe Harris and Bonnie Firestone. (Tracy Scott/Valley Press)
Months of preparation for Paradise Players' upcoming production of "Steel Magnolias" concluded with the final dress rehearsal Saturday evening.
The play was written by Robert Harling and was first performed off Broadway in March 1987. He later wrote the screenplay for the film version. The play has been performed in 17 countries and languages.
Paradise Players bring humor and satire portraying how women show their friendship and support for each other in a place few men dare to visit, the beauty shop.
Directed by Kathleen Hubka with cast members Deborah Davis playing M’Lynn Eatenton; 18-year-old Suzannah Lindsay performing in her sixth play; Rashell Jones playing Truvy Jones; 14-year-old CeCe Harris in her first play with the Paradise Players performing as Annelle Dupuy Desoto; Bonnie Firestone, also performing in her first play as Clairee Belcher; director and actress, Kathleen Hubka performing as Ouiser Boudreaux.
The play is loosely based around a soon to be married woman, struggling with diabetes, surrounded by good intentioned friends and family.
Playwright and author of "Steel Magnolias," Robert Harling said during an interview with Garden & Gun magazine, “When I was young, I was often sent to pluck a few magnolia blossoms for my mama’s floral needs. I learned that, while gorgeous, they are fragile and bruise easily, qualities often attributed to southern women. My extraordinary life experiences with my sister and my mother showed me that the women I’ve known are indeed gorgeous, but their lives can be fragile. But if you look underneath, you realize they possess a tensile strength stronger than anything I could ever muster. I wrote of their strength, joy and laughter that rang out no matter what life threw at them. After my sister’s death, the only way I could deal with it was to celebrate them.”
Performances will be on May 5 at 7 p.m., May 6 at 7 p.m. and Sunday, May 7 at 3 p.m. Tickets can be purchased in Plains at the Garden Gift and Floral and First Security Bank. In Thompson Falls, tickets will be on sale at First Security Bank.
