Hackmatack Playhouse Opens STEEL MAGNOLIAS Next Week

Six women, three generations. This is the foundation of "Steel Magnolias," the show opening next week at Hackmatack Playhouse in Berwick. It is also the story of the six actors who were cast in this story of a group of gossipy southern ladies who meet at a small town beauty parlor.

"It's so much about generations of mothers and daughters," said Caitlin Lowans, director of the show. "And it's great that a lot of of the actors have those experiences, which means we really have that perspective from both sides of that relationship in the room."

The play highlights the story of two young women on the brink of adulthood, two mothers struggling with parenting and two grandmothers, equipped with the benefits and bothers of aging.

"I love that we have the full spectrum of age ranges," Lowans said.

"Steel Magnolias," both humorous and touching, explores the common need for family, friends and community. Set in Louisiana, the beauty shop brings together anybody who is anybody. All of them have their hair done here. The shop assistant is not sure whether or not she is still married and the wise-cracking owner dispenses shampoos along with free advice to such characters as the town's rich curmudgeon, an eccentric millionaire with a raging sweet tooth and the local social leader.

Written by Robert Harling, based on his experience with his sister's death, the play opened off broadway in 1987. The title suggests women are as delicate as magnolias and as tough as steel.

"I love that it's a play with strong female characters all at different stages of their lives so the you can come to it at any point and find someone to connect with," said Lowans, a native of Cambridge, Mass., now getting her master's in theater directing at Northwestern University in Chicago.

One of her favorite parts is watching M'Lynn as she watches her daughter, Shelby, growing up. M'Lynn is played by Kelli Connors of Kittery, who is indeed a mother, and Shelby is played by Rachel Noland, a student in musical theater at University of New Hampshire.

"You watch her mother watch her grow and mature. It's wonderful to get to see the mother recognize her daughter's journey into adulthood," said Lowans, herself a mother of a four-year-old.

The relationships between women in the beauty parlor also show that support groups come in all shapes and sizes.

"I love that these women have such close supportive relationships with each other. They show you don't have to be related to someone to be willing to do anything for them," Lowans said

For artistic director Crystal Lisbon, the play's strength is that it features well rounded, strong female characters with humor and grace.

"The play is a comedy, but it also touches on themes that are very real and human ," Lisbon said.

"We rarely have a production with only female characters, so I think this will resonate with the women in our audience, said Michael Guptill. "But there is no doubt that men will be drawn in by this comedic story of life and love in small town America."

"Steel Magnolias" opens July 26 and runs for three weeks Wednesday to Saturdays at 8 pm and 2 pm Thursdays. Tickets are available by calling 207-698-1807 or on line at hackmatack.org.

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