Imagine the task of turning Margaret Mitchell’s bestselling book, “Gone with the Wind,” into a movie. Now imagine that scenario if your whole career rides on the success of that movie, but the screenplay stinks and the director can’t pull the characters out of the actors. That’s the premise behind “Moonlight and Magnolias,” the comedy playing at Square One Theatre in Stratford.
Just about everyone has heard of the book “Gone with the Wind,” but how many have ever really read the book? Written in 1937 by Margaret Mitchell, it was her only book, but she won a Pulitzer Prize for her substantial work, which took her ten years to write. It depicted life during the American Civil War and followed the protagonist, Scarlett O’Hara through the trials and tribulations of the South during this period in history. Considered one of the best books ever written, one can appreciate what it took to turn the more than 1,000 pages into a movie. Of course, if you attend Square One Theatre in Stratford and see “Moonlight & Magnolias,” you’ll discover an hilarious spin on what went on behind the scenes of turning a great book into a great movie.
Celebrating the 70th anniversary of the film “Gone with the Wind” (GWTW) Square One presents Ron Hutchinson’s “Moonlight & Magnolias,” a comedy that will have you laughing out loud. It is based on the true story of five days in the life of Hollywood film producer, David O. Selznick.
Producer Selznick knows that he has the chance of a lifetime with the rights to this book, but he also knows that he needs another screen writer and another director to make it happen. He calls upon Ben Hecht, a conscientious journalist, for a rewrite, and asks Victor Fleming, Clark Gable’s favorite director, to help make it right. There’s some truth to this situation. Selznick did fire the old and bring in the new, but playwright Ron Hutchinson who created “Moonlight and Magnolias” fictionalizes the situation by asking “what could they have been actually doing in Selznick’s office if all three were locked in there for a week with nothing to eat but brain food – peanuts and bananas. Selznick, alternately a megalomaniac, passionate filmmaker and insecure nebbish, has just fired George Cukor, the film’s original director, and the umpteenth draft of a screenplay is totally unworkable. Selznick abruptly suspends shooting and the entire cast and crew are being paid $50,000 a day while he desperately seeks a new director and writer.
The office antics are replete with Marx Brothers-like slapstick and a ton of gags as Selznick and Fleming begin to ‘act-out’ all the scenes and characters of GWTW while Hecht, held prisoner types, occasionally interrupted by phone calls from the likes of Vivien Leigh, Louis B. Mayer, plus gossip columnists Hedda Hopper, Louella Parsons and Ed Sullivan.
By the time the screenplay is completed, Selznick is confident it will work. Hecht thinks it’ll be a bomb that will tarnish their careers and declines screenwriter credit. Fleming elects to take an upfront salary instead of a share of the profits.
The Square One cast includes Alexander Kulscar (Fairfield) as David O. Selznick, Pat Leo (Monroe) as Ben Hecht, Tom Petrone (Norwalk) as Victor Fleming and Ann Kinner (Westport) as Miss Poppenguhl.
Backstage are Milford resident Cliff Fava, lighting designer, plus Stratford’s John Gallagher, scenic designer, Annette B. Versage-Salito, stage manager, and costume coordinator Judy Keegan.
“Moonlight & Magnolias,” directed by Tom Holehan, opens Friday, May 15 and continues Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays through Saturday, May 30 (2009).
Square One Theatre performances of Ron Hutchinson’s Moonlight & Magnolias are:
Friday, May 15 at 8pm
Saturday, May 16 at 8pm
Sunday, May 17 at 2pm (matinee)
Friday, May 22 at 8pm
Saturday, May 23 at 8pm
Sunday May 24 at 2pm (matinee)
Friday, May 29 at 8pm
Saturday, May 30 at 4pm (twilight matinee)
Saturday, May 30 at 8pm (final performance)
All performances are on the stage of the Stratford Theatre, 2422 Main Street in Stratford, Connecticut, located off I-95 Exit 32 (northbound and southbound) in Stratford Center
Single tickets are $20. Single tickets for senior citizens and students are $19 each.
To reserve tickets call the box office at 203.375.8778 (24/7).
The Stratford Theatre is wheelchair accessible and also offers its patrons hearing-assisted listening devices as needed. Please inform the box office of any special needs when ordering tickets.