Cuppa Cuppa Cuppa

“Oops. I see a hole.”   As the first line in the play Steel Magnolias being performed by the Saline Area Players (www.salineareaplayers.org) October 26-28, 2012, the character Annelle (the beauty salon assistant) is referring to a spot in a hairdo.  This show is rife with funny lines, and also poignant ones.  Having said many lines in my past, I find that some come back to me time and again… often because they give some simple meaning or truism or reflect life in some way.

For example, Patti Ringe, who plays Truvy, the hairdresser who owns the shop where the show takes place, is partial to the meaning in this line:  “Smile…it increases your face value!”  So true (and it gives you smile wrinkles instead of frown ones). Lisa Goerlitz, who plays Shelby, likes the line "I'd rather have 30 minutes of wonderful, than a lifetime of nothing special."  Lisa says... It's such a thought provoking, and motivating statement.  In one moment, Shelby suddenly puts everything into perspective for both her mother and the audience.  After all, if we're all living a life of "nothing special," then what's the point?

Some lines are descriptive of a particular character.  I’m planning on remembering both of these lines – they could come in handy someday.  Diana Armistead who plays Ouiser, a wealthy eccentric in the play, has the perfect line for explaining herself.  It is….“I’m not crazy, I’ve just been in a real bad mood for 40 years.”  Or how about Clairee’s line (the ex-mayor’s wife):  "Somebody always said 'If you don't have anything nice to say about anyone - come sit by me!'" Barbara Day, who plays the character, likes it for the way it displays the “smart ass” trait about her character that makes her relatable.  In fact, she said the characters in the play remind her of many of her friends, all of whom can be great “smart asses” when they want to be!

BJ Danner, who plays M’Lynn in the play, loves another of  Truvy’s lines, although she’s not sure if it is for the line itself or the way Patti Ringe says it: "Then take some of the butterscotch in that dish. Throw some in her bag, Clairee. They are the best. They start out real hard, but once you suck all the coating off, they get real chewy. My two favorite things...crunchy and chewy and buttery...all in one. Delicious."

Another funny one by Shelby’s character:  “That’s right.  A lot of Mama’s mental patients are born-again Christians.”  The character says it with such sincerity that she’s completely oblivious to how offensive it is.
Or another one by Ouiser… “A dirty mind is a terrible thing to waste.”

If you come see the show Steel Magnolias maybe you’ll have a favorite line.  Or, watch out for this one… I’m not telling what it’s about…
“Where’s that other one you were telling me about… Cuppa, cuppa, cuppa?”    

Check out additional blogposts at onandoffthestage.blogspot.com about the show!