‘Steel Magnolias’ debuts

Liberty’s Theater Department premiered female, comedy-drama March 25

Ladies of the ’80s  — The story of “Steel Magnolias,” written by Robert Harling in 1987, centers around the lives of six women living in a small southern town. Photo credit: Kaitlyn Becker Johnson

Ladies of the ’80s — The story of “Steel Magnolias,” written by Robert Harling in 1987, centers around the lives of six women living in a small southern town. Photo credit: Kaitlyn Becker Johnson

Not everyone spends an hour doing their makeup and putting on a wig, but sophomores Amanda Ward and Rebecca Hibma do.

The Liberty University Theater Department presented “Steel Magnolias,” a play written by Robert Harling in 1987 about six southern women.

“This is a story of six very, very, strong, beautiful southern women that love each other deeply are just trying to band together and cope with life’s circumstances together,” Ward said.

Scott Hayes, associate dean of the School of Communication & Creative Arts, serves as the director for “Steel Magnolias.”

Hayes said there were several reasons the faculty chose this play for the spring, one being that March is National Women’s History month.

“That was reinforced because we have such strong women, both actors and production staff and we thought … let’s just do a show that really will champion that,” Hayes said.

Ward plays the role of Clairee Belcher, a cheerful widow of the former mayor.

“The author describes her as an eccentric lady who loves sugar,” Ward said. “She has a crazy sweet tooth. But to me she’s a lot more than that … She just champions people. She’s probably the sweetest old lady in the show.”

Ward had to prepare for this play unlike any other. Her roles in previous plays have been characters around the age of 17 and 18-years-old.

“It was quite a process,” Ward said. “I took older women in my life and just took certain mannerisms that they have — the way they respond to things, just conversations I’ve had about their perspective
versus mine.”

Hibma’s character is the other elderly lady in the play, Ouiser Bondreaux.

“Most people … think that my character is this witch,” Hibma said. “She’s old and grumpy and she likes to yell and complain about everybody and snap at people. But in the show, I think especially in Truvy’s Shop particularly, is where it comes out a little bit that beneath her crusty, outer shell, she’s this super sweet lady who really cares about the people that she loves.”

Ward and Himba took into consideration not just the mentality of an elderly woman, but also the physical characteristics.

“I get old-age make-up put on me, which is so fun,” Ward said. “It takes a little bit of time, but it’s awesome.”

Past the makeup though, the two actresses also have worked to communicate the posture of an elderly lady.

“There’s just a lot of different things that you have to take into account — like physicality,” Hibma said. “…You’re going to sit more gingerly, walk a little differently, and then there’s a bunch of different acting exercises that you can do.”

Ward said “Steel Magnolias” is her favorite play she has acted in to date because of the cast and the play itself.

“By far I like this cast, and how close we are,” Ward said. “… Just the show itself is the most meaningful. It’s the most deep. It has the most meat.”

More than 20 people have contributed to this production, according to Hayes. The department has been rehearsing for the past five weeks, except for one week off for spring break.

“The community in theater departments is really extra special because you have to be so vulnerable with each other and willing to go do crazy things in front of each other,” Hibma said. “ I love the community and the people who are involved in that creativity of collaborating with other super creative minds. It’s such an awesome thing when like you have people who are working so well together to create something beautiful.”

“Steel Magnolias” premiered March 25 and ran through April 3.

“It’s really a great celebration of what the title signifies,” Hayes said. “’Steel magnolias — great strength in great beauty.”

Sweeney is a feature reporter.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *