Reviews

Moonlight & Magnolias

Theater Review: Moonlight and Magnolias
By Mark-Brian Sonna of MBS Productions
Monday, January 14, 2008

Moonlight and Magnolias by Ron Hutchinson currently running at Theatre Arlington has a great premise loosely based on a historical event: David O. Selznick locks the director Victor Fleming and the screenplay writer Ben Hecht in his office and three together hammer out the screenplay for Gone with the Wind. They comically act out portions of the book, recite the now famous dialogue, and proceed to make commentary about the implausibility of such a story ever being so popular. They also get into some serious political discussion about the events of the day, such as the rising tide of the Nazi party, the Great Depression, and what it means to be a Jew in the United States. The script succeeds in the former but fails in the later. The play as produced, considering the hindrances of the script, is well executed and enjoyable.

The production boasts a top notch cast with some of our most seasoned veterans of the stage: BJ Cleveland, Ted Wold, and Charles Ryan Roach. Joining this trio is Emmy Klein who is able to hold her own against such tidal waves of talent. This said, it is BJ Cleveland who steals this show with his thunderous performance as David O. Selznick. This isn’t to say that the other performers aren’t up to par, for they are; it’s the script that gives most of the lines and the best moments to the character Selznick. Selznick is bigger then life, and BJ Cleveland plays him that way and with much gusto. He is able to rattle off insanely long monologues with nary a pause for breath, thus making his character a thunderous and at times monstrous presence. Fleming is a wimp, and Hecht is a grump, and both Ted Wold and Charles Ryan Roach are completely believable playing them this way.

Given the rather schizophrenic nature of the piece – is it a comedy or a drama?- Michael Serrecchia has directed the show with much aplomb. He is able to pace the actors through some visually hysterical scenes, and knows how to pause the action for the audience to catch its breath. The scene in which the three men experiment with the best angle to film the famous slap Scarlet gives Prissy in GWTW becomes an exuberant Three Stooges-like moment. The peanut and banana fight in the second act is a funny visual delight. He also is able to make the more serious moments seem genuine, even though, in truth, the dialogue is trite and the philosophical musings and questions posed don’t say anything new and abound with platitutes: “How about being loyal to your conscience?” The scripts failings are in this area, but Mr. Serrecchia handles them with enough care to prevent them from hindering and sinking the entire show.

As always, Theatre Arlington delivers on the technical aspects of this show. The lighting by Ana F. Petit was well done and Jack Hardaway’s set gave enough of a feel of the late 1930’s to make it believable. Beverly Murray’s costumes were just right and the sound design, which was not credited in the program, was very good. As for the props, I must commend Cathy O’Neal for she was able to find period correct phones, typewriters, and accoutrements. She also doubles up as the stage manager and considering the enormous mess the stage becomes as the play progresses, she has her work cut out for her.

Given the inherent flaws in the script, I still found the production worth attending. Moonlight and Magnolias is worth seeing for the dynamic performances of the four actors on stage. Call 817-275-7661 for reservations or purchase online.

Moonlight and Magnolias
When: Now through Feb. 3
Thursdays at 7:30 pm, Fridays & Saturdays at 8 pm, Sundays at 2 pm
Where: Theatre Arlington, 305 West Main Street, Arlington Cost: $15 - $17 
Age limit: All ages
 

Moonlight and Magnolias 
Through Feb. 3
7:30 p.m. Thursdays, 8 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays, 2 p.m. Sundays
Theatre Arlington, 305 W. Main St., Arlington
$15-$17
817-275-7661
www.theatrearlington.org

Be advised: Contains strong language

Runtime: One hour, 50 minutes with an intermission

Best reason to go: Aside from its clever riffs on a familiar subject, the hilarity of the messed-up staged after the first scene.
 

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