Steel Magnolias’ Star Cast
Robert Harling’s classic Southern US drama Steel Magnolias has long been a star vehicle for great actresses. The latest national tour continues that tradition. The tale of enduring friendships that centres around a beauty salon is an audience favourite. Beth Keehn caught up with director Lee Lewis, and one of her six leading ladies, Lisa McCune.
BETH KEEHN: Lee, your recent work has brought us some brilliant one-woman shows (Suzie Miller’s Prima Facie, and Willy Russell’s Shirley Valentine). How does it feel to be introducing an all-star cast of six in Steel Magnolias?
LEE LEWIS: With my recent work, I’ve become more conscious of how many fabulous female actors we have – but how few roles there are for them. So, it was a joy casting Steel Magnolias, bringing women of different experiences and eras to the stage – from newcomer Lotte Beckett (as Annelle) to Belinda Giblin (as Ouiser), who – as well as her fabulous film and TV career – has appeared in more than 50 plays. We also have Mandy Bishop (Truvy), Debra Lawrance (Claire), Jessica Redmayne (Shelby), and the lovely Lisa McCune as Shelby’s mother, M’Lynn. I’m sure there will be much sharing of knowledge and experience and joy. I have my dream cast.
BETH: These performers are also theatre makers and writers, with work spanning comedy, drama, TV, film and theatre. Can you tell us more about your casting process?
LEE: When I looked at the original Australian production in 1988, that cast included the greats of that time (including Nancye Hayes, Maggie Dence, and Nicole Kidman in her first professional stage role). I wanted this new cast to be the greats of our time too. And the process was magic – we auditioned for the two younger roles, but for the others, the scripts went out to our first choices, and they all said YES straight away.
Six degrees of separation
BETH: Lisa, you have done a lot of things in your career, but did you ever imagine that you’d be hitting the road with five other female performers?
LISA McCUNE: No! This is a first. It is unusual to work with so many other women. There are a lot of things to look forward to with this play, and working with this cast is one of them. Mandy Bishop and I were in different years at WAAPA, and some of the cast have worked on Blue Heelers but I haven’t worked with any of these actors before. We all met for the first time at the photo shoot. My character is the mother of Shelby. I have a daughter who is about the same age, so that is going to add an extra emotional element to the role for me.
BETH: Lisa, is this new dramatic ground for you – playing a mother?
LISA: Yes. Over the years, I’ve moved through the young female roles, so it will be interesting portraying the mother-daughter dynamic. And also bringing to life the humour that punctuates the deep emotion of Steel Magnolias and its female characters.
Popcorn vs interval drinks
BETH: The beloved Hollywood version of Steel Magnolias looms large. What do you think audiences can gain from seeing the story live on stage?
LEE: Like most people, I was mainly familiar with the film. But when I read the play, I loved how close it was emotionally to the screen version. So, I think it will be a delightful surprise for audiences. The setting is also welcoming – there is something about that very female space of the beauty salon – a place where conversations happen among women. This is the perfect play to see with a group of friends and have the best night ever. Yes, cry your eyes out, but also have a good laugh!
LISA: Naturally, I am a huge musical theatre fan, but I think we are seeing an audience appetite for more drama – and also the experience of going out. Last year when I was in Brisbane with The 39 Steps at QPAC’s Playhouse, Pretty Woman opened in the nearby Lyric, and at the end of every night, I loved seeing people spilling out of the theatre – they were all dressed up! And I can see that happening with Steel Magnolias.
LEE: I think you revisit and view the story through a different lens – with maybe an older perspective. I remember seeing the film when I was young and I was focused on Julia Roberts as Shelby. I wasn’t watching Sally Field as M’Lynn. But now I see that hers is an extraordinary role. So, depending on what you’ve lived, you’re drawn to these different characters now in new ways.
LISA: The characters each bring a lot of humour, fun and light, but then there’s the deeper story too. We fall in love with Shelby’s spirit and there’s so much hope in the story because of her. But all the other women have their journeys too, and they are all inspirational.
Small town girls
BETH: Do you think audiences will relate to the American South setting?
LEE: Steel Magnolias is an intergenerational female story that is bursting with heart. It’s absolutely irresistible. And the setting is part of that appeal.
LISA: I think you just become involved in the story. And the play does that beautifully with the way you meet all the characters as they come through the door of Truvy’s Salon. The story is just honest and real – and I think that’s what our production is trying to achieve. We are working with dialect coach Jennifer White, and I’m sure that when people first hear the Southern American accent they’ll tune in and get it right away. You could set the play in Australia and the storytelling with the women would still work – but Steel Magnolias is based on writer Robert Harling’s real family story, and women he knew in his community, so keeping it true to the essence of where the real story happened is important.
BETH: Interesting that the cast are mostly ‘small town girls’: Lisa grew up in Perth, Belinda was born in Tamworth, Mandy is from country New South Wales, and Jessica trained in Ballarat. So, I think this group is qualified to take us to Louisiana!
LEE: I grew up in a small town too. Believe me, the local events are pretty huge! Graduations, debutante balls, weddings – the satin, the nail polish, the hair!
BETH: Lee, now that you have brought up the subject of frocks – you have Simone Romaniuk working on the sets and costumes, transporting us to Truvy’s Salon.
LEE: We get to go back to the 1980s. This play lives in a particular time, and the audience’s memory of that time is important too. So, we’ve decided to use clothes, which is very different to costumes. Usually when you make costumes for a play, you have several versions of the same piece. Simone is great at finding original pieces, so for Steel Magnolias, we are giving each character their own wardrobe.
BETH: So, you could see the play more than once just for the different outfits! And I see you are working again with composer and sound designer Brady Watkins. I’m looking forward to that aspect of the storytelling too.
Six actors in search of a Kingston
BETH: Now, it’s my job to ask what Stage Whispers readers really want to know, so cut to the chase – with six leading ladies, is there a risk of too many star egos?
LEE: Not at all! When people ask me about the egos and the vanity, I have to say NO – that is not what actors are. With the careers that these performers have had, I am looking forward to the rehearsal conversations and the tea breaks – my bet is the only fight will be for the Kingston biscuits!
LISA: People might think that actors have a lot of ego, but in my experience, everybody just wants to work to make the show better. I know that having survived the gruelling workload of a lifetime in the theatre or series television, this cast are all great professionals. As an actor, when you step into the rehearsal room, it’s like the first day of school and you’re starting from scratch – you’ve got your little toolbox of training, and you know an audience, but there’s a vulnerability and you have to build a show together. I think we’ll all be working together for the audience to make sure they experience an evening of great theatre and storytelling.
Steel Magnolias opened in Brisbane in April, then tours to Sydney, Wollongong, Canberra, Perth and Melbourne. Book your tickets now: www.steelmagnoliasplay.com
Click here to read Beth's review.
Photographer: Brett Boardman
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