Theatre Review: "Steel Magnolias" by Castle Craig Players

Meriden - The Castle Craig Players are back in their Meriden theatre live and in person, presenting “Steel Magnolia,” a story of friendship, family and Southern hospitality written by Robert Harling. The play, directed by Castle Craig Board member Pamela Amodio who once played the role of Ouiser, runs through Oct. 24.

Amodio describes this play better than I could in her director’s note: “Whether you’re ornery and opinionated Ouiser, the salt-of-the-earth Truvy, the grand dame/mother of everyone as is Clairee, or the gentle waif/child of Annelle finding her place in the pack, we can all identify. And when we experience pain and tragedy like Shelby and M’Lynn, we all know that it is our women friends who will sustain us.”

The cast seemed a bit disconnected at the performance I attended, with the audience missing some of the funny lines, but overall this production is a good one.

Clare Fravel made her Castle Craig debut in the role of M’Lynne and did well with the part of Shelby’s strong mother. The actress, who studied acting at UConn Department of Dramatic Arts, has performed in area theaters since 1998. Sarah Yeisley made her Castle Craig debut in the iconic role of Shelby.

Gina Marie Davies was a delight in the role of salon owner Truvy. Her Southern accent was spot on in her Castle Craig debut and she looked at home in her poofy blonde wig. Davies discovered theatre in the first grade and has been acting ever since, and two of her more than 35 productions include the roles of Clairee and Ouiser in “Steel Magnolias.”

Another strong member of the cast was Catherine Quirk of West Hartford as Clairee in her Castle Craig debut. This fine actress was Vi Moore in Landmark’s “Footloose” and Beatrice Carbone in “A View From The Bridge” at the Warner. Dawn Maselli rounded out the cast as the prickly Ouiser who has just been in a bad mood for forty years.

The great set of a hair salon designed by the director and decorated with authentic 80’s salon props gently changes with the seasons. The play is set in the fictional Chinquapin, Louisiana in 1987. The costumes also reminded us of the era and the excellent wigs helped the story along.

Sound design by Ian Galligan included carefully chosen music between the four scenes and Dusty Rader (“Cabaret”) designed the gentle lighting. Rader minored in theater as an undergraduate and received his Master of Arts in Teaching from CCSU.

Melanie Del Sole served as the producer. The play is presented with one 15-minute intermission. The cabaret seating is more socially distanced than before the pandemic. A helpful email explains all of the requirements for audience members.

Some of the rules that apply to patrons, performers, staff, and volunteers include that doors open 30 minutes prior to curtain time instead of an hour. To avoid a backup at the door, please have your mask on and proof of vaccination ready when entering the building. Patrons are REQUIRED to wear a mask in the theater (unless actively eating or drinking) REGARDLESS of vaccination status. In case you forget your masks, disposable masks will be available. They ask patrons to limit their food to light snacks (chips, nuts, etc.) and beverages and refrain from bringing large meals or shared dishes at this time. An electrostatic disinfectant sprayer/fogger, as well as multiple antibacterial, germicidal, virus reduction air purifiers will be used throughout the building.

It was a pleasure to sit in the intimate Castle Craig storefront theatre, especially for one of my favorite plays, and I appreciated the extra space at the spread out tables, although it meant that the theatre was able to sell fewer tickets. Up next is MTI’s “All Together Now!,” a global event celebrating local theatre in November, followed by “Who’s Holiday,” a comedy with a twist of rhyme in December.

Nancy Sasso Janis has been writing theatre reviews since 2012 as a way to support local theatre venues. She posts reviews of well over 100 productions each year. In 2016, she became a member of the Connecticut Critics Circle. She continues to contribute theatre news, previews, and audition notices to local Patch sites. Reviews of all levels of theatrical productions are posted on Naugatuck Patch and the Patch sites closest to the venue. She recently became a contributor to the Waterbury Republican-American newspaper. Her weekly column and theatre reviews appear in the Thursday Weekend section of the paper.

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