Two acts take place on a single set in Truvy's Beauty Salon in fictitious
Chinquapin, Louisiana. The women gab, gossip and needle each other
though the best of times and cry and comfort each other through the
worst. The show is both hilarious and touching, and, in the
end, deeply revealing of the strength and purposefulness which underlies
the banter of its characters.
The show is staged by Twin Cities director/actor Christopher Teipner
for Heritage Theatre Company in Maplewood, Minnesota. We had a chance
to talk to Mr. Teipner last week and find out what makes this production
so special.
AN: What's this show about?
CT: For me, it's a show about relationships--especially
southern women's relationships across different generations. How
they deal with birth, marriage, being happy, death, etc. I also
believe it has elements of "the circle of life." So, you'll
see this theme repeated throughout the production. For example,
the movement of the characters often happens in circles. Sometimes
another character breaks the circle and I have them PHYSICALLY
break, or cut into, the circle.
AN: How else are you treating your production differently
than the movie?
CT: Well the biggest thing is that I'm letting
the actors fully evolve their characters without them being Sally
or Julia or any of the other stars we're familiar with. This cast
has developed a special relationship with their characters and
I believe you will really see it in this production. Also,
you'll find that the play gives you a deeper glimpse into each
of the characters personalities than you will get in the movie.
We've really worked on exploring the characters' various modes
of vulnerability.
AN: What challenges do you face with this show?
CT: Not making any of the women Delta Burke... *laughs*
It's a fine line between creating a real "southern woman" and
the caricature of one. [Designing Women anyone?] Also, I really
want the audience to feel like they are looking back in time
into brief moments in a beauty salon in Louisiana. I specifically
didn't want the set to LOOK like a set so I installed running
water on stage and the electrical outlets really work! You'll
see the ladies REALLY get their hair washed, dried and styled
every night! They even brew coffee on stage! [Served
in the lobby at intermission we hear...]
AN: What do you like about the cast for this production?
CT: So many great women auditioned for this
show. It allowed me to really pick the right actors to create my
vision of the final production of this show. They create an emotional
rollercoaster that every audience member will be able to believe
and directly relate to at least once.
AN: Most people know you as a "musicals" director. How
is directing a play different?
CT: *laughs* Well, first of all, it's A LOT
harder! You can't just break into a song in the middle of a scene
to change the mood of the audience. And without songs, the characters
must be more fully dimensional people. This makes a play more complicated.
AN: But you DO use music in this play don't you?
CT: Yes. I've selected a "soundtrack" for
the scene transitions. All of the songs are about women which
I feel helps direct the mood of each new scene throughout the
show.
AN: You mentioned that this is a true story?
CT: Actually, it is! It's about the author's
sister, mother and 4 of her closest friends; who by the way,
actually make cameos in the movie version. Obviously, there should
be additional characters (men), like in the movie, but Robert
Harling specifically chose to set this play only in a beauty
salon so there wouldn't be any men.
Been in a bad mood for 40 years? We recommend you go visit the six
fine ladies of Chinquapin, Louisiana. Bring a Kleenex AND prepare
to laugh out loud!
