Steel Magnolias Review Melbourne: The Play of the Season at the Athenaeum Theatre
There is something wonderfully familiar about walking into your local hair salon. It’s far more than a place to have your hair done—it’s where stories are shared, laughter fills the room, tears are quietly wiped away and life’s biggest moments are discussed over a cup of coffee.
Let’s face it, our hairdressers probably know more about us than we know about ourselves.
That simple yet universal idea is exactly what makes Steel Magnolias, now playing at Melbourne’s Athenaeum Theatre, such a timeless and deeply relatable production.
A Hair Salon Filled with Friendship, Laughter and Life
Set almost entirely inside Truvy’s bustling beauty salon, the story follows a close-knit group of women who come and go through its doors, sharing every milestone imaginable. Engagements, weddings, pregnancies, family dramas, heartbreak and loss all unfold between styling chairs and hairdryers, proving that sometimes the strongest support networks are found in the most unexpected places.
Leading the remarkable ensemble is Lisa McCune as M’Lynn Eatenton, the doting and fiercely protective mother of Shelby who delivers a performance filled with quiet strength and heartbreaking vulnerability. Jessica Redmayne is captivating as Shelby, bringing warmth, determination and infectious optimism to the role despite her type 1 diabetes. Mandi Bishop is wonderfully charismatic as salon owner Truvy, creating the welcoming space where friendships flourish. Tracy Mann shines as the elegant and witty Clairee, while Belinda Giblin steals countless laughs as the delightfully sharp-tongued Ouiser. Lotte Beckett completes the cast beautifully as Annelle, whose personal transformation unfolds with sincerity and charm.
Each character is so wonderfully defined that you quickly forget you’re watching actors. Instead, you feel like another customer sitting quietly in the salon, listening to conversations that are funny, heartfelt and incredibly real.
Lisa McCune and a Stellar Cast Deliver Outstanding Performances
One of the production’s most striking visual elements is the use of pink throughout the play. Shelby’s favourite colour is pink, and it becomes a subtle yet powerful symbol of her vibrant personality, optimism and love of life. The vibrant costumes and touches of pink bring warmth to the stage, making the emotional journey that follows even more poignant.
Filled with laughter, warmth and genuine emotion, Steel Magnolias beautifully explores the strength of female friendship, family and resilience. While there are plenty of moments that will have audiences laughing out loud, it is the emotional depth of the story that stays with you long after the curtain falls.
At the heart of the production is Shelby’s lifelong battle with diabetes and her dream of becoming a mother despite the serious risks to her health. Her pregnancy places enormous strain on her body, yet she remains determined to bring her baby into the world. After the safe arrival of her son, Shelby’s health continues to decline. In one of the play’s most moving acts of unconditional love, her mother, M’Lynn, donates one of her kidneys in the hope of giving her daughter more time. Tragically, despite every effort, Shelby passes away not long afterwards, leaving her family and closest friends to navigate unimaginable grief.
It is these moments that make Steel Magnolias so incredibly powerful. The story never becomes melodramatic. Instead, it presents life’s greatest joys and deepest sorrows with honesty, compassion and extraordinary grace.
Steel Magnolias Is a Beautiful Celebration of Human Connection
What resonated with me most was the reminder that human connection is everything. Through every celebration, every setback and every unimaginable loss, these women remain fiercely loyal to one another. It’s a beautiful reflection of friendship, unconditional love and the importance of having people beside us when life doesn’t go to plan.
It also reminds us that some of life’s greatest conversations happen in places we least expect. Hairdressers become therapists, confidants and lifelong friends. They celebrate our happiest moments, comfort us through our hardest days and somehow always know exactly what we need to hear. Steel Magnolias captures that unique bond perfectly.
The intimate setting of Melbourne’s Athenaeum Theatre allows every emotional moment to resonate throughout the auditorium. By the final curtain there were very few dry eyes, including my own.
To call Steel Magnolias the play of the season almost feels like an understatement. In my opinion, it is quite possibly one of the finest stage productions I have ever had the privilege of seeing. It captures every emotion imaginable—laughter, joy, heartbreak and hope—with remarkable honesty, leaving the audience completely invested from beginning to end.
This is theatre at its very best. Raw, beautifully acted and profoundly human.
If there is one production to see this season, make it Steel Magnolias. You won’t simply watch this story—you’ll feel every moment of it long after you’ve left the Athenaeum Theatre.
★★★★★ (5/5)
Why Steel Magnolias Is the Must-See Play of the Season
Whether you’ve loved Steel Magnolias for decades or are experiencing it for the first time, this exceptional production is an unforgettable theatrical experience. It reminds us to treasure the people who stand beside us through every season of life and proves that the strongest women aren’t those who never break—they’re the ones who continue showing up for each other, no matter what.
Reviewed and written by Melinda Sullivan.
Photography by Brett Boardman
