Steadstyle Chicago
	July 2010 Theatre Review by Paul Cosca
	Steel Magnolias I'm not a fan of chick flicks.  I think the elements that make up a good story, and thus a good movie or play, are the same no matter what genre you're working in.  A good horror film has the same basic elements of a good musical when it boils down to the plot.  So "Steel Magnolias" has never been at the top of my Netflix cue.  Yet for the most part, I was pleasantly surprised at how the grandmother of all chick flicks is based on a play that is mostly free of chick flicky type schlock. For the uninitiated, "Steel Magnolias" is about six women in the town of Chinquapin, Louisiana.  Truvy owns a hair salon (converted from her old carport), Annelle is the brand new assistant, Clairee is the former first lady of Chinquapin, Oiser is a crotchety old spinster, M'Lynn is a proper southern mother, and Shelby is the daughter of M'Lynn.  While there are small subplots with all the characters, the main plot points concern Shelby's health (she's diabetic) and how that affects everyone else. Walking into the theatre, the first thing that becomes abundantly clear is that set designer John Whittington is exceptional.  Whittington's set is absolutely picture perfect and I certainly didn't need the calendar on the fridge to tell me the show is set in the mid 1980's.  Details that I questioned before the show started were answered fully as everything went along.  Everything was in its place, and it's one of the most solid set designs I have seen in a long time. It's unfortunate then that there wasn't as much attention paid to other aspects the production.  My main complaint is that it is very uneven; some sections are exceptional, while other parts of the play are bloated and in dire need of some guidance.  In fact, this entire show is lacking guidance from front to back.  It seems that what is on stage right now are some very solid actor instincts, but that isn't often enough to make a great show.  First, a director looking at this show could easily shave 5-10 minutes off just by eliminating the unnecessary pauses that plague nearly every scene.  Beyond the pausing, a director could be great help in shaping all of the physical action of the show; Shelby's diabetic crash in the first act ended up a confused, muddled mess that took me right out of the world of the play. Not all is failing though.  Like I mentioned before, there are some very strong acting instincts at play here.  Sharon Roseri has a lot of great comic timing as the wise cracking Clairee and Jessica Maynard in particular is a standout.  Out of everyone, Maynard, playing Annelle, gives the most connected and consistent performance, adding a vitality and urgency to the scenes that is a welcome change.  The script is very solid and is served well by the casting.  For its faults, this is an entertaining show that, for the most part, avoids sentimentality. So bring your tissues and leave pretention at the door.  "Steel Magnolias" isn't a new show or the best show in the world.  But if you want to have a show tug at your heart strings a bit, Hubris Productions has the show for you.  Hopefully in a week the show starts to settle in and gets a little tighter all around.  If not, then it will be hard to get fully behind this production. "Steel Magnolias", directed by Lavina Jadhwani, runs Thursdays-Saturdays at 8pm, Sundays at 3pm through July 31, 2010.  Tickets are $25, or $10 for industry professionals on Thursdays and Sundays.  All performances are at Greenhouse Theater Center (2257 N. Lincoln Ave).  For more information, or to purchase tickets, go to www.hubrisproductions.com.  For more information on this show, please visit the Theatre In Chicago Steel Magnolias page.   About Paul Cosca Paul Cosca is a writer, actor, director, designer, and critic who loves the city of Chicago. Originally from California, Cosca moved to the windy city in 2005 and got a BFA in acting from Roosevelt University. He has acted and directed in several theatres in the city and is the artistic Director of Brikenbrak Theatre Project, a theatre that is devoted to challenging the way people think. Cosca is devoted to creating a dialogue between all kinds of people in the theatre community. He believes that actors, directors, writers, critics, and theatre lovers should all engage each other, and that the flow of communication is what makes theatre such a vibrant community. He would love to hear what you think, not only about his reviews, but about other shows you've seen. Feel free to send him an email at paulcosca@gmail.com.