Analysis Of The Play Steel Magnolias

Steel Magnolias The play Steel Magnolias is a heartwarming story about six friends who spend their free time with one another in their local beauty shop. The humorous yet deeply touching story held the attention of audience members young and old. From the set to acting, every aspect of this play created an experience that is truly unforgettable The use of lights throughout the play did not vary often. Throughout most of the play, bright overhead lights portrayed the play’s main set room: a small town beauty salon. The lights created an atmosphere that was not only cheerful, but also warm and inviting. On each side of the stage, warm, more natural lighting was used to make the small outdoor areas more realistic. Lights were also used to convey

I knew Steel Magnolias took place in a beauty shop but I was not expecting the detail in which the set was built. The construction of the outside view of the house and an idea of the nature around it as well as the main salon room help to establish an idea of the characters’ personalities. The salon was set up like most beauty shops are in reality: Mirrors, spinning chairs, tables full of fashion magazines, but the small details are what made the set truly fantastic. Things such as pictures on the mirror and decorations like the big southern hat on the wall show Truvy’s personality. Also, the use of a rotary phone and the old wallpaper and the use of Christmas lights in the upstairs windows paired with a wreath outside the door helped to portray the time period in which the play was set as well as the time of

Big hair, bright colors, and denim helped to establish the time period the play was set in. Each actress’ outfit gave the audience an idea of her character’s personality. For instance, Clairee wore pant suits and looked the part of a sophisticated, classy former mayor’s wife. On the other hand, Ouiser wore comfortable clothes; often sporting a pair of jeans and a flannel shirt over a t-shirt showing her practical and simple lifestyle. The use of jackets and scarves portrayed the change in season and helped establish the different time frames from scene to scene. The costumes reflected each character well and were fitting for the time in which the play was portrayed. The use of sound helped to create a story behind the scenes. The sounds of Drum’s gunfire and Ouiser’s dog barking create a humorous event outside of the set. This scene of family/neighborhood craziness is relatable to any audience member in some way and helped the audience to connect with the characters. The use of the radio at the beginning and end of each scene helped to establish a mood and in some cases a time change. It also worked as a signal to the audience when a scene was beginning or