Gone with the Wind

Synopsis

Set in 1860’s Atlanta, Georgia, Gone with the Wind follows the story of the seventeen-year-old Scarlett O’Hara, the eldest of three daughters living a life of luxury on their father’s plantation until the onset of the Civil War threatens their idyllic existence. Scarlett’s incredible journey through both the war and the peace is mirrored in her turbulent relationship with Rhett Butler, whose actions always defy prediction. Their story spans ten years and mingles romantic ecstasy with tragic grief, as the life these people once knew disappears, for better or worse: gone with the wind.

Our Review:

23 April 2008

It's not a line I recall from the 1939 film of Gone With the Wind, but we're told something really startling about Scarlett O’Hara at the start of the second interminable act of Margaret Martin’s new musical play: “She walked every day for miles looking for yams.”

Frankly, my dears, I don’t give a yam, but there's a bizarre suggestion in Trevor Nunn’s production that Scarlett morphs into some kind of Mother Courage of the American Civil War, pulling her baby and belongings around on a gun carriage after the burning of Atlanta before breaking into a hymn to the transforming powers of flatulence: “The life I used to know has gone, gone with the wind.” No more curried eggs for her, then.

Jill Paice as Scarlett gives everything she’s got to this item, which I cannot label as the programme does not list musical numbers. These numbers, anyway, don't stand alone, but sidle out of the show with their footling orchestrations like guilty little secrets. If only they’...

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Latest User Review

ELIZABETH WALLACE - 13 June 2008:

Gone with the Wind was PHENOMENAL. Congratulations on a fantastic show, it makes me crazy to see the critics tear something so entertaining and raw apart to jump on a popular bangwagon. Everyone in the theatre last night thoroughly enjoyed themselves and were transported and engaged constantly and if there was a person not weeping by the end they hid it very well. The ovations were extremely well deserved and it is a tragedy that this show is closing when the great word of mouth about it spreads tragically too late and it could have soared over the cynics as We Will Rock You did. Special mentions must go to the leads Danesh and Paice, for their electric chemistry, powerhouse performances and stunning voices put to beautiful and INTERSTING arias and tunes. SURELY THE SOUNDTRACK MUST BE RELEASED SOON! I was along with at least 50 other audience members queueing for it in the interval. Gone With The Wind surpassed my wildest expectations. I see an average of 100 shows a year and this my have been my favourite so far...

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