It reminds me of that old man who was being helped out of the auditorium. 'Well, at least we know it probably had a happy ending this time as Rhett had his arm around Scarlett when they took their bows'

What lovely happy pictures. WOS have a thread musical flops that deserve a second look. So far no mention of GWTW but that is to my mind because many of those who got on its back didnt even see it.

Lovely photos...........I hadn't seen these before. Nice to see natural, unposed photos.

Nice to see them happy.

what wonderful pictures, how I miss that show - just seeing D's warm smiles as Rhett makes me long that I was seeing him in it again

I keep hoping - even a dvd of the show would be really nice.

I think that might be a lovely dream Meg. Sue

But one that someone COULD make come true if only they would. Just get the cast together again for one show and record it. Should be within their powers to do it. I hate the thought that so many thought it a bad show when it was one of the best bits of theatre I've seen. A dvd would let people make up their own minds.

I would have hoped the woman who wrote the thing got a DVD or some recording of it.. I know I would have, all that time and money and not even to have a record of it somewhere..doesnt seem right.

Lots of Darius connected things don'r seem right.. I'd prefer a later version of the play to the one before openning. The cast were more relaxed in their roles later on but I could live with any.

double post - takes a skill that I'm very good at.

Edited September 13, 200915 yr by megham

A new cd of a new musical called Bluebird has been released before the show itself. It features two of the cast from Gone with the wind whose names I didnt recognise.

I'm not sure that'd have helped without the vision as well. The songs were so much a part of the action, I don't think you cold judge on sound alone.

 

http://theatreexplorer.blogspot.com/2010/0...-with-wind.html

Theatre Explorer is passionate about the theatre. Many hours are annualy spend in the theatres of Holland, London and New York. This blog wishes to share these theatre adventures (bilingually), which include the heavenly, mediocre and the horrific. Play on!

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▼ August (6)

GONE WITH THE WIND

 

THURSDAY, 26 AUGUST 2010

GONE WITH THE WIND

THEATRE: New London Theatre

PERFORMANCE: 6-6-2008

TIME: 19:30

WITH: Jill Paice, Darius Danesh, Edward Baker Duly, Madeleine Worrall, Jina Burrows, Susan Jane Tanner, Susannah Fellows, Ray Shell, Horace Oliver, Jeff Shankley & Natasha Yvette Williams

DIRECTOR: Trevor Nunn

 

For connoisseurs of musical disasters this adaptation by novice Margaret Martin of the famous novel by Margaret Mitchell (1936) and MGM movie (1939) is one for the books. The captain of the ship Trevor Nunn (“Cats”, “Les Miserables”) is known for his long productions, but this one makes you feel as if you’ve lived through the Civil War experience in real time. Theatre critic Nicholas de Jongh even called "cruel, unusual punishment" in the Evening Standard.

 

 

 

American Jill Paice (The Woman in White) plays the iconic role of bitchy Southern belle Scarlett O’Hara, but she is not able to rise above the risible material to make her character worthy of ones interest. Mostly you just wish she would stop bitching and whining about her unrequited love for the saintly and super boring Ashley Wilkes (Edward Baker-Duly). One starts to feel for Paice, though, when she has to screech the awful title song just before intermission.

 

 

Darius Danesh & Jill Paice

 

The talented cast is mostly wasted on this production as the material and direction just leave most stranded as mere lost ciphers on the vast stage. Nunn has incorporated the narrative technique, which he used successfully for his staging of Nicholas Nickleby, whereby all characters are used to narrate the epic tale. Only Darius Danesh (Chicago) as the cad Rhett Butler and Natasha Yvette Williams (The Color Purple) as Scarlett’s long suffering maid Mammy manage to make an impression.

 

 

 

First timer Margaret Martin blunders all over the place. The book is a mess, the lyrics often silly (“if we close our hearts to hatred/And we open them to love/Hope will follow on the wings of a dove”) and there is not a single tune that manages to work. However, I mostly put the blame on the experienced and (in my opinion) overrated Nunn, who should have known better than staging this production. John Napier, who revolutionized theatre design with productions like Equus and Les Miserables, also comes up short with his environmental design, which mostly features actors running aimlessly up and down his two-tiered set. Even the burning of Atlanta fails to make an impact and looks very amateurish with one set tipping over, red light and smoke.

 

 

 

To update the tale for the times Martin and Nunn have incorporated the voices of the slaves in the story as well, but it does not come across as organic and makes the evening even more longwinded. Most critics were complimentary of the gospel song by the slaves, but even this had me responding like Rhett: “Frankly my dear I don’t give a damn.” The production has so much plot to plod through that everything feels rushed and consequently nothing registers emotionally. Despite these busy goings on the production still feels like eternity in limbo, because it all leaves one cold. This makes my appreciation for Danesh and Williams even greater, because they were the only point of light in a very long, murky and hollow tunnel.

 

 

 

This production deservedly received a critical beating and bad word of mouth. As a result it was gone with the wind in no time. I only wish I had bought the kitchen apron with the line “I’ll never go hungry again” as a souvenir and reminder of one of the longest nights in the theatre. In this it is probably only surpassed by the Dutch musical Rembrandt.

 

Not agreat review of my favorite musical but Darius got praise. I don't remember having this one before

Edited August 26, 201014 yr by megham

A museum in Texas is appealing for £19000 to mend and preserve the dresses that were worn in the original film.

https://www.facebook.com/126276610757175/vi...e=2&theater

 

I still wish we could see this again

Thanks Meg :)