Theater -- Tom Titus

If there’s any theatrical project that can challenge “Joseph and the

Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat” for exposure on local stages, it’s Robert

Harling’s “Steel Magnolias.”

Last year, everyone and her sister was doing the six-woman play set in

a Louisiana beauty parlor. In fact, I personally saw three productions of

it in six weeks --- one (Vanguard University’s) I reviewed; the second,

in Anaheim, involved a longtime friend; and the third, in Westminster,

featured my daughter and my former wife.

Undaunted by its apparent familiarity, the Costa Mesa Civic Playhouse

scheduled it as the opener of its 2001-02 season last September, but --

surprise -- all of a sudden the rights weren’t available. So they

substituted another golden oldie, a rollicking production of

Shakespeare’s “A Midsummer Night’s Dream.”

But they still yearned to produce “Steel Magnolias,” so when the play

again became available to community theater groups, the Civic Playhouse

people rushed it into the March slot originally occupied by “Charley’s

Aunt.” It opens tonight.

Director Jack Millis, who also staged “Midsummer,” explains its

popularity among local theater groups.

“Well, it’s one set, and that always helps,” he quipped, “but it also

has six strong women’s characters, and that’s hard to come by in

scripts.”

“There always seems to be a lot of talented women wanting to act, and

not enough roles,” Millis observed. “But with ‘Magnolias,’ it’s all

women.”

Millis says he’s very happy with the company of actresses

he’sassembled to tell the story of the trials and tribulations of six

Southern women. Though it originally was written in 1983, the director

has chosen to update some of the references.

“I didn’t feel this would hurt the play in any way,” he declared. “The

story is so timeless and emotions have no time period.”

The Costa Mesa cast consists of Jane Nunn as Truvy, the beauty shop

operator; Kristina Davis as Annelle, her newcomer protege; Marie Nussle

as Clairee, the town’s former first lady; Kristina Leach as Shelby, the

headstrong bride; Roxie Lee as M’Lynn, her concerned mother; and Judy

Jones as Ouiser, a loud, boisterous neighbor.

The garage beauty shop is being recreated by set designers Kathy and

Steve Endicott and Jermaine Sherman, with costumes provided by the cast

and playhouse President Deborah Bushman. Megan Endicott is assistant

director and stage manager.

“Steel Magnolias” will be presented 8 p.m. Thursdays through Saturdays

and 2 p.m. Sundays until April 7 at the playhouse, 661 Hamilton Ave., Costa Mesa. Tickets are $15 and $12.50, with opening night priced at $20

for the show and champagne reception. Reservations may be obtained by

calling the theater at (949) 650-5269.

* * *

Another show that’s been around the block a few times locally is Neil

Simon’s “Rumors,” the latest production of Costa Mesa’s Trilogy

Playhouse, opening next Friday for four weekends.

The madcap comedy focuses on eight guests at a dinner party, at which

the host and hostess are mysteriously absent (the husband has

accidentally shot himself and the wife is missing). Farcical

misadventures ensue as the guests endeavor to deduce what transpired.

Performances are 7:30 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays and 5 p.m. Sundays

through April 14 at the Trilogy, 2930 Bristol St., Costa Mesa.

The theater will be dark on Easter, March 31. Tickets are $15 and $13.

Call (714) 957-3347, Ext. 1, for reservations.

* TOM TITUS writes about and reviews local theater for the Daily

Pilot. His stories appear Thursdays and Saturdays.