Review: 'Steel Magnolias' at Music Theatre of CT

Dedicated to my mother

Norwalk, CT - Music Theatre of Connecticut is a new theatre for me, but is actually celebrating their 33th season in Fairfield County. I was impressed with the setup of the theatre, from the comfortable lobby to the three-sided stage surrounded by comfortable seating in the intimate house for the audience members; there did not seem to be a bad seat in the house and mine was perfect in every way. I had the pleasure of meeting MTC co-founders Jim Schilling, Managing Director, and Kevin Connors, Executive Artistic Director on my first visit to the theatre. I look forward to returning to see the rest of the season, which includes SYLVIA and THE BUDDY HOLLY STORY.

STEEL MAGNOLIAS is one of my favorite shows, a funny, touching and extremely real play written by Robert Harling. It is a true story that Mr. Harling wrote in 1985 about his sister who had died due to complications for type 1 diabetes. It started out as a short remembrance story for his nephew and namesake; from there it blossomed into a beloved play. The film, which I enjoy watching more since I have seen at least five productions of the play, recently marked the 30th anniversary of its release.

“If you don’t have anything nice to say about anybody….come sit by me.”

So I traveled to MTC with high expectations and I was not disappointed. Pamela Hill kept in mind the message of “Life is too short to be so serious” and definitely brought of the plethora of very funny lines that I have memorized. I felt that the pace of the two acts may have been a tad too slow, but perhaps it was to emphasize the more leisurely pace of all things Southern. Rest assured that I still laughed and cried as I always do, for as Trudy proclaims “Laughter through tears is my favorite emotion.”

Raissa Katona Bennett essentially leads the cast in the role of Truvy, the owner of the local salon, and made her impossible not to love. This singing actress appeared as Christine in PHANTOM OF THE OPERA on Broadway and was in the first national tours of CATS and PARADE. She recently played Helen in FUN HOME at MTC and will be bringing her Jerome Kern Cabaret show to MTC’s Hot Summer Nights series this summer.

Kristi Carnahan (Marta in KISS OF THE SPIDER WOMAN) as Ouiser made a magnificent entrance in her fifth MTC production. She then maintained her memorable performance as the woman who has just been in a very bad mood for 40 years. The actress is grateful for professional theatre right her at home in Fairfield County, as am I.

Andrea Lynn Green was last seen as Maggie in MTC’s CAT ON A HOT TIN ROOF, for which she earned a CCC Outstanding Lead Actress nomination, and she also appeared in VANYA AND SONIA AND MASHA AND SPIKE at Hartford Stage. Here she plays the heartbreakingly lovely Shelby, whose signature color is pink and wants nothing more than ‘thirty minutes of wonderful than a lifetime of nothing special.”

Cynthia Hannah played Big Mama in CAT ON A HOT TIN ROOF at MTC and now takes on the big role of Clairee, an old friend of Ouiser and the financially comfortable widow of the previous mayor of the town. Ms. Hannah’s credits also include ALL MY CHILDREN and Billy Joel’s video for “Keeping the Faith.”

Kaia Monroe did very well as M’Lynn, the fiercely devoted mother of Shelby. Ms. Monroe played Adrianna in COMEDY OF ERRORS with Elm Shakespeare Company, which I unfortunately missed this summer, and is an associate professor at Southern CT State University.

As Annelle, Rachel Rival embraced the character arc of the new girl in town trying to run from her past. Ms. Rival has been a student at MTC throughout her educational career and makes her debut on the Mainstage in this role. She is a graduate of the Hartt School with a BFA in Musical Theatre.

These professional actresses, all members of Actor’s Equity, brought this touching play to life for a 4pm matinee and then would do it all again for an 8pm Saturday performance. That they maintain the easy Southern presence twice in one day is admirable.

The set of Trudy’s Chinquapin, Louisiana beauty salon, for she owes her success to the fact that there is no such thing as “natural beauty,” was quite spacious and well-appointed. The scenic design of Fairfield University graduate Jessie Lizotte was detailed and changed with the seasons with props by Merrie Deithch. I loved the suggestion of a wall mirror that allowed all sides of the audience to see everything. Only when two characters had an (albeit brief) scene in the waiting area of the salon was I not able to appreciate both sides of the conversation. Lighting design by RJ Romeo added just the right touch to the various scenes and sound design by WCSU grad Will Atkin included some incidental seasonal music and radio announcements.

Costumes designed by Diane Vanderkroef fit the personalities of all six of the Southern ladies perfectly. The all-important hair design was overseen by wig mistress Peggi de la Cruz and included a mix of wigs and natural hairstyles performed on stage.

STEEL MAGNOLIAS is presented with a fifteen minute intermission. Performances run November 8th-24th: Fridays at 8pm, Saturdays at 4pm & 8pm, and Sundays at 2pm. TICKETS: http://ow.ly/riki50wKObr MORE INFO: https://www.musictheatreofct.com/steelmagnolias

There is a small bar offering snacks and drinks. MTC Mainstage, which prides itself on featuring Broadway actors in your backyard, is one of only three professional theatre companies left in Fairfield County, down from 11. The lovely theatre is located at 509 Westport Avenue in Norwalk. There is a sign attached to the fence and there is limited parking in front, although there is another lot nearby.

Nancy Sasso Janis, writing theatre reviews since 2012 as a way to support local venues, posts well over 100 reviews each year. In 2016, her membership in the Connecticut Critics Circle began and her contributions of theatrical reviews, previews, and audition notices are posted not only in the Naugatuck Patch but also on the Patch sites closest to the venue. Follow the reviewer on her Facebook pages Nancy Sasso Janis: Theatre Reviewer and Connecticut Theatre Previews and on Twitter @nancysjanis417 Check out the NEW CCC Facebook page.

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