When a play only uses one set, as does “Steel Magnolias,” opening March 18 at the Ojai Art Center Theater, the set becomes an intricate cast member. For this play the backdrop is a beauty salon in northern Louisiana during the 1980s, and reveals the lives, loves, and losses of six women across several generations.
Then a problem arose after rehearsals began that needed immediate resolution. One actor cast as a hairstylist never used rollers in her hair and had no idea how to look like a professional stylist.
“When casting a part in a play, I wasn’t considering the actor’s hairstyling skills,” said director Jill Dolan. “Arranging a lesson with personal instruction took some time, but Robbie Anderson of Delilah stepped up and helped us out.”
Robbie gave Emily Vallance lessons on hair techniques to resolve this dilemma. She portrays Annelle, one of the play’s hairdressers. “I was a bit of a tomboy when I was younger, and hairstyling was never on my mind,” said Vallance. “Robbie was so generous with his time and patience as I tried to learn the various tools and methods, even how to wrap wet hair in a towel.”
Anderson also took on styling the many wigs worn by the actors as the play passes through three years.
In “Steel Magnolias,” Truvy Jones runs a successful beauty salon in Chinquapin, Louisiana, where all the ladies in the neighborhood have a standing Saturday appointment. Along with her eager assistant, Annelle, Truvy styles the hair of many of the women about town: wealthy widow and former first lady of Chinquapin, Clairee Belcher, local curmudgeon Ouiser Boudreaux (“I’m not crazy, I’ve just been in a bad mood for forty years”), intelligent and compassionate career woman M’Lynn, and her daughter Shelby, the prettiest girl in town. As the women of Chinquapin make their way over life’s many hurdles together, they find comfort (and a fair amount of verbal ribbing) in one another. “You have no idea how wonderful you are,” M’Lynn tells the ladies at the end of the play. Truvy responds, with a smile, “Of course we do.”
A timeless story of friendships and helping each other through the trials of life, “Steel Magnolias” opens March 18 and runs for four weekends. Performances run Friday and Saturday at 7:30 pm, and Sunday matinee at 2 pm. Tickets available online, where you can pre-select your seats, or call 805-640-8797.