By Brendan Losinski

Staff Intern

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REVIEW_____

When the film “Gone with the Wind” opened in 1939,it was immediately proclaimed a masterpiece and a work of art. It is still considered by many to be one of the greatest movies of all time.

However, the making of this film was anything but a work of art, and Meadow Brook Theatre’s newest play,”Moonlight and Magnolias,” tells the story of the film’s creation.

The play, written by Ron Hutchinson, takes place in the office of famed producer David O. Selznick. After firing his director and writer,Selznick plans to completely rewrite “Gone with the Wind” with his chosen replacements: Friend and screenwriter Ben Hecht and director Victor Fleming.

Selznick then locks himself, Hecht and Fleming in his office until they have finished.

However, since production on the film has already begun, they have only five days to finish the script. Adding to the problem is the fact that Hecht never read the book upon which the film is based in the first place.            

As they act out the entire book for Hecht to rewrite, the three men clash, resulting in both humor and drama.

“It’s not so much a play about Hollywood; it’s about three guys in crisis and how they deal with it differently,” said Dennis North, the play’s director. “I like [the play] because it has a little bit of everything.”

The play stars Loren Bass as Selznick, Wayne David Parker as Fleming, Tom Whalen as Hecht and Emily Sutton-Smith as Miss Poppenghul, Selznick’s beleaguered secretary.

Bass carried the play admirably as the driven Selznick, who pushes the work forward. Parker and Whalen both did excellent jobs as the stressed and cabin-fever-stricken filmmakers. Sutton-Smith was a great addition, for her ability to remain simultaneously exasperated and deadpan.

In addition to the cast, the set itself somewhat become its own character. As the play progresses, the prim and proper office of Selznick becomes nothing short of a disaster area, reflecting the creative madness that occurred during the five-day period in which the play takes place.

North himself organized the set so that all of the elements present at the start of the show make up the chaos at the performance’s end.

“The insanity is kind of inspirational,” he said.

When asked if “Moonlight and Magnolias” is a success, North said, “It’s always a happy mistake when it all goes off well.”

After seeing the play, audiences may realize that the same could be said for “Gone with the Wind.”

“Moonlight and Magnolias” will be playing at Meadow Brook Theatre until April 13. Tickets are available at the door, by calling (248) 377-3300 or going to www.mbtheatre.com.