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Gone With the Wind is a goner …
Slammed as one of the biggest flops in London’s theater history, the musical adaptation of “Gone With the Wind” will close June 14, three months ahead of schedule, thanks to poor ticket sales.
The musical, written by Margaret Martin, a novice playwright from California, was set to run until Sept. 27. It blew into London’s West End only weeks ago, opening on April 22.
A delegation of tourism officials from Georgia even traveled to London in mid-May seeking to capitalize on the production in an effort to entice planeloads of British tourists to Atlanta and Savannah. But the show has suffered under the weight of bad reviews from British newspapers. As a result plans for a Broadway production of the show have been put on hold.
Nicholas de Jongh, a critic for London’s Evening Standard newspaper, said recently that: “Connoisseurs of big, bad musicals must rush to catch Gone With the Wind in case it’s quickly blown away in gales of ridicule.” Another charged that: “Rhett Butler kissed Scarlett O’Hara like a frenzied dental hygienist.”
The show’s early closing is a serious setback for the production’s financial backers — who included heiress Patty Hearst — as it generally takes about a year for a show to break even.
The musical starred former reality TV star Darius Danesh as Rhett Butler and Broadway actress Jill Paice as Scarlett O’Hara. It was directed by Trevor Nunn of Cats fame.
Despite the drubbing from the media, those involved with the show still insist that audience members have continued to express enthusiasm over the quality of the production.
Comments
By SayitAin'tSo
June 2, 2008 10:44 AM | Link to this
What’s next, a musical of No Country for Old Men? Why would anyone think London would be interested in a musical of GWTW? Dumb idea from the get go.
By Mrs. Warren
June 2, 2008 11:54 AM | Link to this
Someone from California writing the play? That was your mistake right there. A southerner would have been a better choice.
By Beverly
June 2, 2008 12:05 PM | Link to this
I HATAED THE MOVIE TOO AND I’M AMERICAN.
By JJ
June 2, 2008 12:18 PM | Link to this
The story within the story: If you have to “entice” outsiders to Atlanta and Savannah for anything maybe you don’t have something to show them.
Sounds like a great excuse for a big party of state related employees to get a free trip to London.
By JeremiahWright
June 2, 2008 1:28 PM | Link to this
I hate white people!
By FCM
June 2, 2008 1:34 PM | Link to this
GWTW tells stories on several levels. I cannot think of any level that would make a good musical. I remember when AJC first announced that a musical was in the works…I laughed myself silly.
By meg hamm
June 2, 2008 3:36 PM | Link to this
I’ve seen this show several times. The critics mauled it - as much for the fact that it had a first time writer than anything else. The other 1000 or so people who watched that performance, gave it a well deserved standing ovation ( not common in the West End) The music fits the story and echoes in your mind. The cast are very, very, good. Darius Danesh, Jill Paice and MaTasha Williams were absolutely brilliant. It does help to see a performance before making a final judgement. The critics as a whole, praised the cast, especially Darius Danesh. I’m really sorry that this has closed as it has become my favorite West End show. No longer too long, it holds your attention and you don’t want it to end.