Moonlight and Magnolias

by Ron Hutchinson 

July 9th - August 1st, 2010

The ADOBE goes inside the making of "Gone With the Wind"

Have you ever wished you could be "a fly on the wall" at some important event? How about the Yalta Conference with Roosevelt, Churchill and Stalin? Or the Oval Office listening to Nixon, Haldeman and Erlichman? Well in July at The ADOBE Theater you can witness the (almost) true events in the private office of producer David O. Selznick as he manipulates and dominates writer Ben Hecht and director Victor Fleming in putting together the screenplay for "Gone With The Wind" in only five frantic days!

Selznick had stopped the shooting on the epic film out of dissatisfaction with the script and the previous director. He yanked the unwilling Fleming off of the half complete "Wizard of Oz," and insisted that Hecht (who had never read the bestselling book) sit and type a new screenplay as he and Fleming acted out the scenes. So much is true, but the hilarious play by Ron Hutchinson gives us the "inside dope" about Hollywood in 1939: its egoistic players, their triumphs and disasters. (Selznick was the son-in-law of the powerful Louis B. Mayer and was desperate to prove himself to "Poppa.") The play also explores class and ethnic attitudes in Tinseltown during the run-up to WWII.

Wynn Rowell is a newcomer to New Mexico from Los Angeles, and he brings much experience in film, theater, and script writing to his directing debut at the ADOBE. He feels that this play is almost a slice of life and he has chosen a great cast: Mark Underwood is the boy genius David O. Selznick, Kenneth Bennington is the brash Victor Fleming, and Thom Hinks is the curmudgeonly Ben Hecht. The faithful secretary, Miss Poppenghul, who maintains the isolation of the men (and provides them with bananas and peanuts!) is played by Virginia Chavez. Wynn says, "It's the first time I've got my first choice in actors. Top to bottom - a great cast!"

The clash of titans is hilarious and, as we know, resulted in a film that won 8 Oscars for Best Actress (Vivian Leigh); Best Supporting Actress (Hattie McDaniel); Best Director (Victor Fleming); Best Picture; Editing; Screenplay; Art Direction and Cinematography. It was also nominated for Original Score, Sound, and Best Actor (Clark Gable). The movie also received two special awards for color and for equipment projection.

Ticket prices:
$14 General Admission
$12 Seniors or Students
Group rates are available.

Theater Location:
9813 Fourth Street NW
Albuquerque, New Mexico
(2 blocks north of Alameda Boulevard)

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Theater Main Number & Reservations:
505-898-9222