One of Robert Harling's longer plays:- 'Steel Magnolias', was recently given an excellent airing by the Tilbourne Players at the Tilford Institute. This is a play based on real-life experience by the playwright. Billed as a comedy, it's a play in which profound and complex emotions are inter-twined with with an engaging and entertaining plot.

The action is set in a beauty parlour in north-west Louisiana, and opens when the owner, Truvy Jones (played by Brezetta Thonger) is hiring a new assistant - Annelle. Truvy was convincing as a peace-maker, really looked the part, and comically played her character to advantage. I greatly enjoyed watching Annelle (played by Sarah Owens) make her metamorposis from nervous newcomer in town, to a party animal and then to a revivalist born-again Christian.

The other characters were introduced in rapid succession as the plot unfolded. Terminally ill Shelby (Helen Phillips) managed to stoically combine the sensitive performance energy of youth, with the underlying pathos associated with severe illness.

Hilary Lee-Corbin (who played Ouiser Boudreaux) gave a vibrant and yet nuanced performance of the cynical, curmudgeonly, but wise Southern matriarch. I greatly enjoyed the sparky partnership between her and Clairee (Marion Homer) who truly excelled as the grande dame of the play.

Jane Quicke played M Lynn Eatenton very dramatically and gave an admirable performance throughout.

I thought that the entire cast performed very well, utilising humour and light-hearted conversations to defuse the seriousness of the underlying situation.

As the title and the programme suggested, the characters in this play are "as tough as steel or as gentle and delicate as a magnolia flower" - and the cast in this particular production did not disappoint.

Congratulations should also be accorded to the front-of-house staff who were clearly working throughout to bring the entire performance experience together, and to the light and sound effects operators who were on-cue throughout.

The Director (David Brace) must really be congratulated firstly for his casting as all members displayed an affinity with their characters, giving the play a unique appeal; secondly for the set and stage effects. In all they made the play a great success. In conclusion, he is to be congratulated for an engaging and enjoyable production. And I enjoyed it immensely!

Peter Evans