Truvy (Molly Gehring) comforts M'Lynn (Alexis Landry) in 'Steel Magnolias'. Photo by Maddie Doucet. 
- The ladies of ‘Steel Magnolias’. Photo by Maddie Doucet.
by Jonathan Goff
Design Editor
The Bryan College Hilltop Players’ production of Robert Harling’s Steel Magnolias was “moving,” “hilarious” and “a whole lot of fun,” according to attendees of its Jan. 25-30 run.
Upon entering Brock Hall, audience members were delighted at the quaint, yet colorful set of the Louisiana beauty shop as they enjoyed brownie à la mode baked by Mrs. Donna Belisle and served by the cast.
The story revolves around the friendship of six women in 1980s Cinquapin, La., and the emotional journey of M’Lynn Eatenton (freshman Alexis Landry) and her diabetic daughter, Shelby (junior Emily Hendrix).
Adding some sugar and spice to the mix are Truvy Jones (senior Molly Gehring), owner and operator of the backyard beauty shop, and her shy, but helpful assistant, Annelle Dupuy-DeSoto (senior Emily Yates).
The unlikely friendship between Clairee Belcher (senior Ali Ibsen), the former mayor’s wife, and crabby neighbor Ouiser (that’s Wee-zah) Boudreaux (sophomore Lauren Twombly) had the audience dying of laughter more than once.
Landry’s performance was particularly moving near the end of the show as the audience clung to the edge of their seats at each cry of despair for the loss of her daughter.
Despite a few minor technical difficulties, Steel Magnolias was a smashing success, and Triangle eagerly anticipates the Hilltop Players’ next production, Man of La Mancha, to be produced April 15-17, 2010.