Yes! Gone With The Wind is a Musical!!!!!
Categories: Life & Style, Real Estate News
hi
For those of you who read my blog last fall titled “Are Realtors a Civilization Gone With The Wind?”, you know that I am a dedicated “Windy” – aka obsessed with all things “Gone With The Wind.” For those of you who didn’t read it, you’ll just have to keep up. Recently, I read the ill-conceived “Rhett Butler’s People” written by a 
man who hadn’t even read GWTW before and had no business writing a book about one of the most interesting characters in literature. It was obvious that he just didn’t get it. Needless to say I was more than disappointed after having special ordered the book and waited over a month to get it. After about chapter two I had an overwhelming desire to throw the book into a fire and shout “You aren’t fit to wipe his boots!” I had to re-read GWTW (for the fifteenth time) and re-watch the Movie (for probably the hundredth time) just to calm down. I am quiet sure that Margaret Mitchell is rolling in her grave as we speak!
At times like these we must remind ourselves of Scarlett’s credo that “Tomorrow is another day!”, because there is hope. Last week my sister sent me an email. In Big, Shiny Bold Letters followed by many exclamation
points was this statement – GONE WITH THE WIND IS A MUSICAL!!!! Oh what bliss! My immediate reply – WHO? WHEN? WHERE? I didn’t bother to wait for her answers. I quickly googled “Gone With the Wind Musical” and was immediately dealt a crushing blow. For the moment it is only playing in London. LONDON! I felt like Scarlett when she had to watch another woman marry her beloved Ashley! How come they get to have it and not us?
Well, I immediately set about trying to convince my husband that it was absolutely necessary for us to travel to London this summer. Needless to say, he was a little skeptical. “Maybe you should read the reviews first honey.” He might as well have said “Frankly my dear, I don’t give a damn.” I wanted to scream “I’m going to London if I have to walk every step of the way! … If I have to Lie, Cheat, Steal or Kill…” Fine, if I must! … I checked the reviews. Sigh. They were all over the place. Some said the Musical bordered on ridiculous, others thought it was mediocre at best and some people absolutely loved it and thought the Actors were “Brilliant!”. Hmmmm. Maybe I’ll wait until it comes to Broadway….
If you have heard anything about this, I would be grateful for the input. I think the Musical is still in the previews stage and they are probably still trying to work out all the kinks. I would appreciate any opinions or information you might have about the show! I’m still holding out for London!
One of my high school classmates married the last living actor in the original movie. Of course, he is quite a bit older than she. His name is Fred Crane — he was one of the twins who wanted to court Ms. Scarlett. My friend had a “Gone with the Wind Museum” and bed-n-breakfast which she recently sold (along with the memorabilia)– I’ll contact her and see if she has any information and will get back to you.
Just thought I’d write to say I’ve been to see the musical three times. Fourth is next week. Needless to say, I loved it. I saw the first preview which was very long and I missed my train home. It’s shorter now but it didn’t feel too long at 4hrs 10mins. Sometimes I wonder what the critics are watching. Before they’d seen it, the axes were out as it had a first time writer – and female at that. There are differences to the book but, it’s much nearer that than the film.
Rhett is played as in the book, Clark Gable fitted the same description. Scarlett is on stage a lot. Jill who plays her, had it written into her contract for ‘Curtains’ that she could leave if ‘Gone With The Wind’ was offered.
It’s funny in places and very sad. I like the last quarter the best. it’s very sad and very touching. I got to dislike Ashley – which is good. Melanie’s part didn’t always work. Loved the music. I have it running around my head. The cast is brilliant. They get a standing ovation at the end. Darius Danesh as Rhett Butler is surprigly fantastic. He had me in tears. There’s no one in the cast that isn’t good. It’s been made slightly more politically correct.
I hope you get to see it sometime.
meg
Megs,
You must meet Jenna (she helps me with Chris)and her mother. They have the most amazing collection of GWTW memorabilia. Her mom had two of the cutest dogs ever named Scarlett and Melanie. I think that Melanie would bite the hell out of Scarlett every so often. I love your blog and will check in from time to time. I sent it on to Jenna and I know she will send it on to her mom.
I think you should go to London!!!!!
Love,
Aunt Maggie
Thanks for all your comments! I hope I will get to go to London soon. I’m dying to see it! I never met a critic I agreed with anyway.