Is London's GWTW Already Went With The Wind?
Is London's GWTW Already Went With The Wind?It looks like there might be trouble in Tara.
This evening's preview performance of Gone With The Wind has been canceled, after having already been in previews since April 4. The musical version of Margaret Mitchell's epic Civil War novel is currently scheduled to open one week from tomorrow at the New London Theatre in the U.K. capital's West End.
According to Playbill:
A production spokesperson told Playbill.com that the performance has been canceled to allow time for additional technical rehearsal. Director Trevor Nunn is also looking to reduce the running time of the musical, which is scheduled to officially open in the West End April 22.This Gone With The Wind features a book and score written by sociologist Margaret Martin, who was profiled fairly extensively by Donna Kornhaber and David Kornhaber in this past Sunday's The New York Times. Martin describes how she passed Nunn's Volvo test, but only after first managing to win the rights for the project from author Margaret Mitchell's estate.
Rumblings about the show's exhaustive four-hour running time have already been circling the Web, necessitating a two-part review by the West End Whingers.
I'm supposed to be in the audience one week from Wednesday -- the day after it opens across the pond. But one of my in-the-know theatre friends said, only half-joking, "I hope it doesn't close first."
All of which has me wondering whether this production is already "Went With The Wind." If all else fails, maybe former Curtains star Jill Paice, who is creating the role of Scarlett O'Hara in the London tuner, could don some drapes a la Carol Burnett in that fabulously funny spoof from her seventies variety show.This is Steve On Broadway (SOB).
Click here for tickets.
Related Stories:
GWTW Composer: Knowin' Somethin' 'Bout Birthin' Babies (September 27, 2007)
Frankly My Dears... (July 1, 2007)
Gone With The Wind The Musical? (February 22, 2007)
Labels: Film, Gone With The Wind, London, Margaret Martin, Margaret Mitchell, Musical, Trevor Nunn
posted by Steve On Broadway (SOB) @ Monday, April 14, 2008
3 Comments:
Steve, I'm rooting for you. Let's hope it holds on for another eight days! The Whingers' review was witty as usual, but I'd love to get your take on it. It's just too bad you won't get to see the original four-hour version. Or maybe not! Btw, what is the longest show you've ever sat through? Would four hours be a record?
Esther, Some shows have seemed interminable, but they've barely scratched two hours. I think August: Osage County is about the longest show I've seen, but it goes by so quickly.
I also have a few improvement suggestions based upon seeing the preview yesterday. They are here
Post a Comment
<< Home