One-liners add to ‘Steel Magnolias’ charm

Robert Harling’s 1987 play “Steel Magnolias” is a slice-oflife southern comedy-drama principally known today from the 1989 movie starring Julia Roberts and Sally Field. This play is about women, although written by a man; Harling wrote the play as a tribute to his sister, who died prematurely after giving birth. “Steel Magnolias” is currently playing at Albuquerque Little Theatre in a fine production directed by Pete Parkin.

Set in a Chinquapin, La., beauty parlor, the play depicts the camaraderie, gossip, laughter and mutual support during a time of tragedy among six women over three years in the 1980s.

The play opens on the morning of Shelby’s wedding day, and although I had never seen the play or the movie before it was clear where this was going when Shelby, a diabetic, passes out in this first scene. Because of her condition Shelby is advised not to have children, but of course later in the play will bear a child and also undergo an unsuccessful kidney transplant.

“Steel Magnolias” can be quite amusing and recalls Neil Simon in its use of comic one-liners, but unlike most of Simon’s popular comedies “Steel Magnolias” ends as a tearjerker. The playwright’s penchant for one-liners sometimes mars the play, as when at the climax of the drama a sobbing M’Lynn is so upset she is compelled to leave the salon only to have Truvy, the salon’s owner, insist she first inspect the backside of her haircut with a mirror.

Still, Harling’s talent for oneliners is on a par with Neil Simon or Woody Allen: when it is said that Ouiser never did anything religious in her life she responds, “that’s not true, me and my girlfriend once dressed up as nuns and went bar hopping.” There are dozens of funny lines like this one, some of which will have you laughing out loud.

Part of the problem with this play, though, is the maudlin ending, which seems unconnected to the rest of the play.

The acting is generally very good. Rachel Pernice is delightful as the oddball Annelle, a deserted young wife now pious and prayerful who finds a new family with Truvy (she occasionally gets down on her knees and begins praying in the middle of the beauty parlor); Jill Novick is amusing as the naughty Truvy, the proprietor of the salon; Zoey Reese and Lorri Oliver are good as daughter Shelby and mom M’Lynn; Samantha Blauwkamp does nice work as the patrician Clairee, who purchases the local radio station so she can play Shelby’s favorite songs; and Maureen Conheady-Trujillo adds considerably to the mix as the curmudgeonly Ouiser.

Set designer Moises Hinojos has done a fine job creating a 1980s beauty parlor. Blown-up photos of models with bad ’80s hair are sprinkled throughout the salon. Joe Moncada’s period costumes and Lando Ruiz’s sound design are nicely done as well.

“Steel Magnolias” is playing through May 6 at ALT, 224 San Pasquale in Old Town. Go to albuquerquelittletheatre.org or 242-4750 to make reservations.