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Aug 04, 2023

CURTAIN CALL: Don’t miss ‘Steel Magnolias’ Aug. 11

Curtain Call with Tom Toney. “Love to me is blue-eyed and blonde. Oh, that’s sweet Magnolia. Apple pie on the window still warm. That’s my sweet Magnolia.” Now that’s a beautiful sentiment. And since

Curtain Call with Tom Toney.

“Love to me is blue-eyed and blonde. Oh, that’s sweet Magnolia. Apple pie on the window still warm. That’s my sweet Magnolia.”

Now that’s a beautiful sentiment. And since I’m starting this column with it, there must be a connection to an upcoming event.

And indeed, that is the case.

The Milledgeville Players, your local community theatre group, is preparing to present the classic play written by Robert Harling, “Steel Magnolias.”

Many people are familiar with the basic premise of this play courtesy of the well-known movie adaptation that was filmed in 1989. You have a group of women that share stories, gossip and life concerns in a small Southern town. And it all takes place in the local beauty parlor.

Harling based the story partly on his own sister, who died in 1985 from complications connected with Type 1 diabetes mellitus. The character of Shelby in the play is based on his sister.

The title was chosen to reflect the idea of women being as delicate as magnolias but as tough as steel. A range often lost on males of the species!

Taylor Phillips, who has appeared in many past productions of the Milledgeville Players including musicals and murder mystery dinners, is taking the helm as director this time around. He is being well-assisted by Annie Bolen and Ken Garland.

The cast includes Rebecca Brasher, Pam Howard, Erica Macklin, Abbey Warnock, Leeann Kelley and Ruby Werts.

Yes, you read that right. Many folks in Milledgeville are familiar with Ruby from her many years of theatre camps for young people and for being the head costumer with the Milledgeville Players.

But she also brings out those acting chops on occasion as well. Here she plays the part of Ouiser who was played by Shirley MacLaine in the movie version.

Though some may recall men being involved in the movie version, this is the original play, which all takes place in Truvy’s in-home beauty parlor and just features the female protagonists.

The Player’s production of “Steel Magnolias” will take place Friday, Saturday and Sunday, Aug. 11-13. Friday and Saturday shows start at 7:30 p.m. while the beauty parlor will do a special Sunday opening starting at 2 p.m.

The location is the Grove Events Center at Renaissance Park, the current home of the Milledgeville Players. The specific address that you would want to launch into any online map program would be 252 Swint Avenue.

And if you are a longtime resident of Milledgeville, you may still be familiar with the Grove Events Center as the Chapel of All Faiths.

Tickets are $15 and you are encouraged to purchase them in advance. Head to milledgevilleplayers.org and you will find both a link and QR code for ordering tickets.

The production is less than two weeks away so make those plans now for a visit to Truvy’s parlor of heavenly hair.

“Magnolia Simms” is one of four songs created by Mike Nesmith that appeared on the Monkees’ fifth album, The Birds, the Bees and the Monkees.

This would be the last album from the group that would have major hits on it, including “Daydream Believer” and “Valleri.”

But the album also featured some experimental and serious rock songs that were unlike what was expected on a Monkees album. Most were from Papa Nes, and included “Tapioca Tundra,” “Auntie’s Municipal Court,” and “Writing Wrongs.” Nesmith was experimenting more and more with different styles of music and merging country rock with sort of a space cowboy sound.

“Magnolia Simms” was purposely produced to sound like an old scratchy 78rpm record. The track had built in needle scratch and several “skips” that were part of the recording. Some listeners would actually try to “correct” the record by bumping the needle around just as you did back then when you hit a real flaw in the record that caused skips and bumps.

But the song is about a beautiful girl named Magnolia, and certainly goes along with the beautiful women in “Steel Magnolias.”

“Magnolia Simms is my little doll. I can’t live without her. For if she goes, my world will just fall. Stay with me, Magnolia.”

Catch you on the flip side.

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