“Steel Magnolias,” written by Robert Harling and directed by Roger Prenger, is showing at the Fountain Hills Theater until Oct. 28. We have seen Roger many times on stage and this time he puts on his director’s hat and he and the cast of all women is superb. I highly recommend this outstanding production.

All the action takes place in the local beauty shop, where we know you get all the good gossip. In summary, Truvy Jones runs a successful beauty salon in Chinquapin, La., where all the ladies in the neighborhood have a standing Saturday appointment.

Along with her anxious and eager assistant, Annelle, Truvy styles the hair of many of the women about town: wealthy widow and former first lady of the town, Clairee Belcher, who has some of the best lines; local curmudgeon Ouiser Boudreaux (“I’m not crazy, I’ve just been in a bad mood for forty years”) played by the marvelous Noel Irick, who steals every play she is ever in; along with intelligent and compassionate career woman M’Lynn and her daughter, Shelby, the prettiest girl around.

Shelby’s engagement is the talk of the town. As these women make their way through what life throws at them, they find comfort in each other. At the end of the play, M’Lynn tells her friends, “You have no idea how wonderful you are.” Truvy responds with a smile, “Of course we do.”

In our world as women, where would we be without our friends? Perhaps all women have spines of steel; I know my two grandmothers did.

Once again our small theater, which is the best in the Valley, has hit a homerun. Whether it is a woman’s play or one for the ages, you decide. But don’t miss this one, you will not be disappointed.