Theatre--Performances

The Acadia Players are presenting Steel Magnolias starting tonight and running through the weekend.

The action is set in Truvy's beauty salon in Chinquapin, Louisiana, where all the ladies who are "anybody" come to have their hair done. Helped by her eager new assistant, Annelle (who is not sure whether or not she is still married), the outspoken, wise-cracking Truvy dispenses shampoos and free advice to the town's rich curmudgeon, Ouiser, ("I'm not crazy, I've just been in a bad mood for forty years"); an eccentric millionaire, Miss Clairee, who has a raging sweet tooth; and the local social leader, M'Lynn, whose daughter, Shelby (the prettiest girl in town), is about to marry a "good ole boy." Filled with hilarious repartee and not a few acerbic buy humorously revealing verbal collision, the play moves toward tragedy when, in the second act, the spunky Shelby (who is a diabetic) risks pregnancy and forfeits her life. The sudden realization of their mortality affects the others, but also draws on the underlying strength -and love- which gives the play, an its characters, the special quality to make them truly touching, funny and marvelously amiable company in good times and bad.

Shows are at the Crowley Rice Theatre. The Friday and Saturday night performances will begin at 7 pm and the Sunday show is a matinee starting at 2 pm. Tickets are available at the Crowley Flower Shop, at the door or online from the website.