Louisiana State University - Gumbo Yearbook (Baton Rouge, LA)

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v- : i fe Currently a rave in theaters across the nation, Robert Harl- ing ' s Steel Magnolias is nothing short of a good, funny, inspiring and inspired story. Harling, a Louisiana native, wrote the story after his sister ' s death to help his nephew understand the impact his mother ' s death had had upon the whole family. The short story later evolved into the play and was completed by Harling in ten days. Set in North Louisiana, the story chronicles the delights and troubles of six best friends as they meet regularly at Truvy ' s Beauty Shop for a wash-n-sct, a bit of news, and a good dose of encouragement or admonition now and then, as necessary. Truvy ' s motto that there is no such thing as natural beauty! is contradicted by the apparent point of this play: beauty is far- more than skin deep. These generous, delicate flowers are as resilient as stainless steel. ex- plained director John Dennis. It is this quality of strength overlaid with grace which lends the play its name. The play focuses on the wis- dom of tradition and common sense passed from one generation to another through a series of problems encountered by both generations. Always seasoned with humor, the play carefully shows the love between youngs- ter Shelby (Megan Austin) and her mother M ' Lynn (Jean Kop- rowski), although they never seem to agree on anything. Shortly after the play opens, Shelby arrives at Truvy ' s to have her hair done for her wedding that afternoon. Shelby wants the Grace Kelly look and has brought a picture to guide Truvy; her mamma wants Shelby ' s hair left long and flowing. Shelby wants baby ' s breath; M ' Lynn wants no baby ' s breath. Shelby wants a pink wedding; her mamma wants anything other than pink. Need- less to say, Shelby gets the Grace Kelly look, the baby ' s breath and as much pink taffeta as you ' d ever want to see. Austin ' s per- formance as Shelby, however, never lets you think of her as a arms ue vowas dt brat. Spoiled, maybe, but not a brat. And spoiled, perhaps, with good reason. Just before the baby ' s breath goes in place, Shel- by, excited and fatigued by the wedding preparations, has a di- abetic seizure. Everyone in the shopshort of Annelle (Myra Bur- son), the new girl, comes to her aid, forcing orange juice into her and holding her arms until the episode passes. The reality of the event was never questioned; the audience held its breath until Shelby ' s constricted body re- laxed once again. Then, of course, we learn that Annelle ' s husband has been arrested and thrown in Jail and she ' s not even sure if they ' re legally married and she ' s living in a boarding house with a crazy won-.an for a landlady. The pla goes on from there, one problem or priceless nuiment after another until it comes crashing to a halt when Shelby dies from complica- tions arising from her pregnancy. M ' Lynn bears up under the press- ure of funeral arrangements and friends bearing food until she can escape to the safe confines of Truvy ' s shop. After unveiling her fury over Shelby ' s death, Annelle displays the wisdom of youth. I don ' t mean to upset you Miss M ' Lynn, she says, but when something like this happens, I pray very hard to make sense out of it. Shelby ' s gone to a place where she can be a guardian angel and she ' ll always be young and always be beauti- ful. And I feel much safer know- ing she ' s up there on my side. Maybe some people think that ' s simple and stupid, she con- tinues, and maybe I am. But that ' s the way I get through things like this. That moment was especially teary one niglit in rehearsal, re- called Loretto McNally, third year MFA candidate who played the part of Truvy. Sissy (Myra Burson) had just come from the funeral of one of her family mem- bers and when she delivered those lines we all lost it. A few of the women didn ' t know Sissy ' s circumstances but they knew something was different. Apparently learning from per- sonal experience, Burson, a senior in theater, carried that same impact in performance. When I said those lines, I guess 1 reinembered the feelings I had just experienced, Burson said. The rehearsal became a com- pletion of all that had gone on that day. It was kind of nice to have a release like that and not to have to carry those feelinL ' s home with year of the MFA program at LSU. There was a really good feeling of trust among the cast. she said. Dennis himself added that the ensemble effect was something he sought from the very begin- ning. It ' s wonderful to bring these people together and see them work together, he said. A bonding occurs which helps them live together on staee for a me. It was wonderful and terrible all at the same time The feeling together the players exhibited added to the play ' s effect. John has men- tioned the ensemble vMirk that ' s come Irom the cast. I really think that was one of the best things about this play and this cast. said Austin who is in her third Truvy (Loretia McNally) and Annelle (Myra Burson) react with characteristic paranoia lo their neighbor ' s pot shots at passing birds. couple of hours. This effect extended be ond the imaginary fourth wall and into the audience as well. I Icit drawn into the performance. 20 Steel Magnolias

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u Residents hope to make Hodges the Journalism dorm for a good reason. With the recent relocation of the Student Media department into the basement of Hodges, the offices in which most of the students would be working would be within easy ac- cess. Considering the late hours most student media workers are used to keeping, this set-up could prove to be very advantageous. The initial thought that comes to mind is the problems co-ed dorms might cause. Despite hor- ror stories about guys breaking Though some changes were made to accommodate the new residents, these Journalism majors found remnants of the former regime left behmd. nfeslii- se dorms fifures illl Sill- ma) nol fCfiiifiy .1 Scow Tonguis As Mike Benson, RA for Sta- dium Dorms, told us, The dorms are fine for freshmen who want to get away from home but after a semester or so they realize that apartment living is better thanjthe dorms. The dorms are notoriously noisy at odd hours of the day and night. Whether it ' s a stereo blast- ing away at 7 a.m. or a group of very inebriated residents running up and down the halls during the study for that monster History test, it ' s a problem not easily overcome in the small space of the dorms. It ' s supposed to be quiet up here from 7 p.m. until 7 a.m., not that the girls down the early morning hours as you try to hall care. It ' s impossible to con- ( into girls ' rooms at night and girls ' underthings hanging in the bathrooms, no such problems seem to be surfacing at Hodges. The lack of air conditioning seems to be the biggest problem so far. Oddo stated, Even be- fore we got the lock on the door we didn ' t have any problems, no- body bothers us and they ' ve all been really nice. So be on the lookout. Journal- ism majors, you may have the first fully co-ed dorm on campus! Janet M. Barklage Drop in dorm population left rooms like this one, in one of the best kepi doniis on campus, empty. centrate, one resident of North Graham told us. Many cited the size of rooms as a major complaint. Some resi- dents complain that the rooms are so small you can ' t pull both beds out and still stand up in the room. Many students opt for the size of Stadium dorms and give up the comforts of air conditioning. Rumor has it that the University has tried to close Stadium several times but the demand for the large rooms is just too great. Another complaint often stated was the uncleanliness of certain (nameless) dorms. Graffiti on the walls, condiments from the cafeterias, and other such things all help to drive students (who opt to escape the situation) from the dorms. Janet M. Barklage Dorm Life Women in Hodges 19

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m ' 1 10 tag • ' and see te saiil. Monied battle-axe Ouiser (Lenore Evans Banks) frets due to her favorite pet ' s hair Truvy. M ' Lynn (Jean Koprowski) and Clairee (Virginia Hill) react as Shelby (Megan Austin) goes into a diabetic sei- zure. said Michelle Perry, a sopho- more in theater. I felt myself experiencing the same emotions as the characters. It was a wonderful performance. ' she added. According to some, no one could have asked for a better opening to LSU Theater ' s 60th season. The champagne recep- tion following opening night ' s benefit performance made the event more special and volun- teers ' desserts, complete with a display of recipes, capped off the evening. According to cast mem- bers. We wished we could have a longer run. It was hard to see it end. William Lewis. Jr. Steel Magnolias 21