A cast of six women meet up in Truvy’s salon to share gossip, support each other and deal with life’s challenges in “Steel Magnolias” which opens Nov. 7 at the ProArts Playhouse in Kihei. Courtesy photo

A beauty parlor in the fictional Louisiana parish of Chinquapin is the setting for Robert Harling’s famous play, “Steel Magnolias,” which delves into the lives of six remarkable Southern women who gather in Truvy’s salon to share gossip, support each other and deal with life’s challenges.

Filled with clever, country-fried witticisms and hilarious rapid-fire one-liners, a new production of the play directed by Maui theater veteran Francis Tau’a opens Nov. 7 at the ProArts Playhouse and runs through Nov. 23.

“I’ve waited over 20 years to direct it,” said Tau’a, who was first attracted to the play as a student at Southern Utah University.

Focusing on friendship and heartbreak, the play is based on the death of Harling’s sister from diabetic complications after a birth. Following the death, a friend suggested he write it down to help come to terms with the experience.

Originally a short story, it evolved into a play performed off-Broadway before being adapted for the “Steel Magnolias” movie starring Julia Roberts.

Harling felt it was important to include the way the characters used humor and lighthearted conversations to cope with the seriousness of underlying situations.

“This play continues to charm and amuse audiences with its spicy, homespun humor and gentle, genuine characters,” noted a Theater in Chicago review of a local production. “But it’s the deep-seated friendships that really make this play hum because they feel honest and kindhearted.”

“Steel Magnolias” runs through Nov. 23 at the ProArts Playhouse. Courtesy photo

Tau’a was moved by the play’s emotional heart when he first encountered it as a sophomore at Southern Utah University. He ended up teaching speech and voice, and an introduction to Shakespeare classes to fellow students.

“Three freshman girls brought in a scene from ‘Steel Magnolias,’ and they needed help getting it together,” he recalled. “I worked with them and just fell in love with it. I’d seen the movie, but the structure of the stage play is different, with everything taking place in the beauty salon. The girls had been together for a while, and I knew right then, if I ever directed this, everything came down to chemistry. You have to believe that these women had history together.”

A director, actor and playwright who worked with the Utah Shakespeare Festival for three years, Tau’a has been involved with the Maui Academy of Performing Arts since 1989. Co-directing and directed children’s theater productions with the ProArts Youth Theatre, his starring roles in Maui productions include “Into the Woods,” “Evita,” “South Pacific,” “Of Mice and Men,” “Murder on the Orient Express,” and “Man of La Mancha” with Amy Hānaiali’i Gilliom.

Among the six characters in “Steel Magnolias,” Tara O’Hanley plays Truvy Jones, Maeve Montgomery plays Annelle Duput-DeSoto, Ally Shore is cast as Clairee Belcher, Madeline Hamada is Shelby Eatenton-Latcherie, Patty Lee is M’Lynn Eatenton, and Lina Aiko Krueger plays Ouiser Boudreaux.

“They’re all different personalities,” Tau’a explained. “Lina Kruger’s character Ouiser speaks her mind. Whatever’s in her head at the moment, that’s what’s coming out. Ally Shore is the more genteel, diplomatic Clairee Belcher. But she can throw down some gossip like everybody else. Then there’s Truvy, who is sort of the heart. I worked with Tara before, and she became my Truvy.”

The play features, “a nice mix of new and old,” he said. “I’ve never worked with Maive before, who plays Annelle. She has such a genuine sweetness about her that I needed for the character. And Madeline Hamada, who’s my Shelby, she had all the qualities that I needed, especially because I needed a mother-daughter. And Patti Lee wasn’t going to audition. I said, ‘I would love to see you there because I love seeing Patti on stage.’ And when she and Annie read together, I was just, ‘There it is.'”

Presented by the ProArts Playhouse, Tau’a has typically directed youth shows at the Kihei theater.

“Steel Magnolias” will open Nov. 7 at the ProArts Playhouse. The show will be presented at 7:30 p.m. on Fridays, Saturdays and Thursdays and at 2 p.m. on Sundays through Nov. 23.