“Steel Magnolias”
Graces Stage at Julian Town Hall

By Ruth Lepper

Recreating her role as Clairee Belcher is like renewing an old friendship for Barbara Keresztury. This is the third time she will be playing the enterprising character in the comedy/ drama, “Steel Magnolias.”

“Clairee and I have a lot in common in some ways,” Keresztury said, comparing the two widows whose husbands’ careers were always first and foremost in their lives.

Clairee’s husband was mayor of a small town in Louisiana. Keresztury’s husband, France, was very active in the community, serving as chamber of commerce president and director for many years as well as superintendent of the cemetery district, founding member of the rural transit board and an officer of the local Lions Club, among other organizations.

Keresztury first played the role of Clairee in 1990 and then in 2003, all for Kinney Productions, formerly at Pine Hills Lodge & Dinner Theatre. The Kinneys left the lodge in August 2003 and formed Julian Theater Company, which will be staging productions year round in the town hall.

“Steel Magnolias,” opening Feb. 5 and running through March 12, is the second production for the Kinneys at the town hall. “A Christmas Carol” was performed here in December.

“We wanted to do a show about a community that sticks together,” producer Debra Kinney said. “Especially after the fires and the support we had in Julian. It’s about a little town and friendships.”

“Steel Magnolias,” written by Robert Harling, focuses on the friendships between six southern women. Truvy runs a beauty shop in her garage, where the women tend to gather every Saturday. The big occasion at hand is the wedding of her next-door neighbor, Shelby. But the mother-of-the-bride, M'Lynn, has more to worry about than wedding day jitters.

Add to this a feisty neighbor named Oiser who has an ongoing feud with M’Lynn’s husband. And Truvy has just hired Annelle, a new girl in town who has secrets of her own. Throw in Clairee to the mix and it makes for a heart-warming story with a poignant ending.

“It’s a great show, a favorite for a lot of people,” Kinney said.

Scott Kinney directs, a sure sign this will be another outstanding production and one to be enjoyed by all. Sandra Sladkey plays Truvy, Kait Mushet is Shelby and Kim Archuletta returns as M’Lynn. Sandi Benentt is cast as Annelle and Alice Greene-Froyke is, once again, the irrepressible Ouiser.

Many of the props used in the 2003 production were lost when the Kinneys’ house was destroyed in the Cedar fire. Debra Kinney said she had to start over, looking for what she would need to recreate the interior of a beauty shop. She turned to Loretta Brown Couture who owns Hair & Nail Hut in Julian and Borrego Hair Place in Julian.

“Not only did she loan me all the beauty shop equipment, she gave the girls some tips on hair styling,” Kinney said.

Performances are at 8 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays, through March 12, with one Sunday matinee at 2 p.m. on Feb. 20, upstairs at Julian Town Hall, 2129 Main St. Tickets are $20 for adults and $15 for children 12 and under. Doors open one hour prior to curtain and refreshments will be available for sale. For more information, call (760) 765-2119.