THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Thursday, May 4, 1995 TAG: 9505030172
SECTION: SUFFOLK SUN PAGE: 16 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY FRANK ROBERTS, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: SMITHFIELD LENGTH: Short : 44 lines
Betty Payne had to learn her lines, but not her technique.
Payne, owner of Hair Fax in Chesapeake, is portraying the owner of Truvy's Beauty Spot in ``Steel Magnolias'' at the Smithfield Little Theatre.
Talk about typecasting.
``It's a one-person shop. I've had it 15 years,'' Payne said of her place on Western Branch Boulevard.
She has a helper in her fictional parlor - Annelle, a frightened-mouse type, portrayed by Lois Chapman.
Jeanette Chapman, Marion Wilson, Gigi Smith and B. Kristin Outlaw round out the cast of one of today's most familiar plays.
``Steel Magnolias'' has been a success as a movie and as a play. It is a woman's story, but it is written by Robert Harling, based on people he knew.
The owner of Hair Fax was once part of Bare Fax, a rock `n' roll band. ``Four guys, two girls,'' Payne said.
Six girls are in the cast of ``Steel Magnolias,'' directed by Judy Hare and produced by Linda Gwaltney.
This is Hare's directorial debut in Smithfield, although she did direct some productions at the Gaslight Dinner Theatre in Newport News.
Payne has performed on the Cotton Gin Theatre stage - small parts in ``Pump Boys and Dinettes,'' ``Music Man'' and ``South Pacific'' - but this is her first major role.
She promises to be as authentic as possible while working on hair. That is particularly important because of the intimacy of the Cotton Gin Theatre.
``I'm so close to the audience,'' she said, ``I have to be authentic.'' ILLUSTRATION: Photo by FRANK ROBERTS
Betty Payne, a beautician in real life, plays the role of one in
``Steel Magnolias'' at the Smithfield Little Theatre. Her
``customer'' is Marion Wilson.
by CNB