The oxymoronic title of Steel Magnolias (by Robert Harding) carefully expresses two aspects of the character of women.
In the cluttered set of this production, four ladies exchanged small town girlie gossip with their flamboyant hairdresser, Truvy (Joanne Smale).
Virginia Harrington excelled as the sharp-witted rich widow Clairee, while Karen Ward breezed into the salon as Ouiser, a larger than life contrast with the mysteriously mousy new assistant Annelle (Caroline Grey).
Ably directed by Rob Walker the ladies maintained credible American accents - early offstage gunshots were less convincing and the telephone was curiously muted.
The essence of the play with its comedy and tragic undertones made for an interesting evening's entertainment.

Margeret Franklin
Courtesy of the Bournemouth Evening Echo