Bevin is a “Steel Magnolia”

Revolving around Truvy’s Beauty Parlor in a small parish in modern-day Louisiana, STEEL MAGNOLIAS is the story of a close-knit circle of friends whose lives come together there. As the picture opens, we find Drum Eatenton shooting birds in the trees of his back yard in preparation for his daughter’s wedding reception that afternoon. Shortly thereafter, M’Lynn and Shelby (Drum’s wife and daughter) depart for Truvy’s to get their hair done for the wedding. “Just the sweetest thing,” Annelle Depuy Desoto (who may or may not be married because her marriage may not be legal) is introduced to Truvy’s customers as her new “glamour technician.” While in the chairs, the sour-tempered Ouiser Boudreaux shows up and entertains the assemblage with her barbs. It seems that the only one of the group who truly understands Ouiser is Clairee who is recently widowed and looking for a diversion. As she says, later in the picture, “If you can’t find anything good to say about anybody, come sit by me.” Filled with humor and heartbreak, these “Steel Magnolias” make us laugh and cry as the realities of their lives in tiny Chiquapin Parish unfolds.

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It was a wonderful surprise when I found out Bevin was doing a show at my local dinner theater… and not only that but it was Steel Magnolias! Any southern girl knows about Steel Magnolias, you could have never seen this movie… but know about it. I went to opening night and I had no idea what to expect. I had seen the movie on and off as a kid but I couldn’t really tell you what happens in the movie. I was seated with a group of wonderful southern ladies and after cocktails, dinner, and desert the show began. As a movie freak I know characterization, I can find any flaw in any performance and let me tell you it was near to impossible to find a flaw in this show. The women who make up this ensemble cast is by far the most talented I’ve seen. During any point in this play you could close your eyes and still know which character was talking. They all had wonderful and distinct personalites and mannerisms. Bevin’s character “Shelby”, originally portrayed by Julia Roberts (which the women at my table swear Bevin looks exactly like), was a breath of fresh air. Just as strong minded and sassy as the older women, she is young and bright eyed. She knows what she wants and will even go down fighting for it, despite lack of support. If you’ve seen Bevin in other works, which if you’re on this site I’m assuming you have, than this performance will seem both familiar and at the same time surprising. Like most of Bevin’s characters, Shelby seems like a typical, happy girl, but there are very dramatic moments that grab you, and because we’re not used to seeing that from Bevin, it’s shocking in a way you would want it to be for the audience. The play will make you smile, laugh, cry and much more. For more information on how you can go about seeing this performance please click here.