Azuay Community Theater presents Moonlight and Magnolias; Discover the chaos behind a classic!

By Scott Levine

Gone With the Wind (GWTW) is firmly enshrined in American cinematic history. It won a then-record 10 Oscars in 1940 (including best picture, best director, best actress, and best supporting actress), and the American Film Institute ranks it the #4 movie of all time. Frankly my dear, we give a damn that its catchphrases live on 85 years later!

Yet few know the chaos behind GWTW’s journey from beloved novel to movie classic. Azuay Community Theater’s 2024-2025 season finale, “Moonlight and Magnolias,” gives Cuenca theatergoers a behind-the-scenes look at the (mostly) true, (very) funny story of how three Hollywood movie men (it was only men back then) turned 1,000 pages of novel into four hours of cinema history…and did it under extraordinary circumstances in only five days!

As the play opens, famed Hollywood producer David O. Selznick has just stopped production on the movie version of Gone With the Wind. The screenplay is unusable, and he can’t afford a flop. He’s apoplectic to learn that his new writer, Ben Hecht, hasn’t even read the book. He’s also brought in a new director, Victor Fleming, known as much for directing The Wizard of Oz as for his brusque demeanor. This clash of personalities sets the stage for a boisterous, laugh-out-loud experience that includes a whirlwind of yelling, flailing, and near-delirium. The guys live only on bananas and peanuts, wryly and hilariously delivered by Selznick’s long-suffering secretary, Miss Poppenghul.

Premiering at Chicago’s Goodman Theater in 2004, Moonlight and Magnolias has also delighted audiences off Broadway and in the UK. Reviews from both continents consistently praise its humor, with one British reviewer calling the play “littered with wonderful one-liners.” A more nuanced review calls it “a farce that combines physical comedy with rapid-fire dialogue to create a hilariously funny yet thought-provoking play.”

The latter point is well taken, as there’s more to this play than just comedy. Beneath the laughs, Moonlight and Magnolias looks at serious themes as well. It directly addresses the growing antisemitism of 1939 and touches on GWTW’s sanitized representation of slavery–a critique of both the novel and the movie. And while pre-war sexism isn’t directly stated in the dialogue, the inequality subtext is hard to miss when the producer treats his secretary like a waitress and a janitor.

These themes offset, yet somehow complement, the play’s humor thanks to director Rick Snyder’s deft touch. Snyder notes that “if the comedic yin is too much physical comedy, it can overwhelm the dramatic yang.” He manages to strike just the right balance between these extremes, thanks to a talented cast and a winning script. At its heart, however, Moonlight and Magnolias is a comedy, and that’s what Cuenca audiences will remember most.

Moonlight and Madness Team (l-r): Mike Casto (technical lead), Tamara Moor (prompter), Rick Snyder (director), Saralee Squires (as Miss Poppenghul), Tim Appling (as Ben Hecht), Larry Bilsky (as Victor Fleming), and Bob Fry (as David O. Selznick).

While Snyder likes closing this season on a funny note, his pride in the cast and crew is no laughing matter. Moonlight and Magnolias features veteran ACT players who theatergoers will warmly recognize. Tim Appling was in this season’s Murder at the Howard Johnson’s. Larry Bilsky was in both Harvey and Dial M for Murder. Bob Fry has a long ACT history on stage and directing—he directed The Waverly Gallery and The Tale of the Allergist’s Wife this season. And Saralee Squires has appeared on stage in Harvey and played important behind-the-scenes roles on several productions.

As a final note, all associated with the production apologize in advance for the aching ribs and sore sides theatergoers will experience from enjoying Moonlight and Magnolias, which runs for four days only, August 28-31, at Azuay Community Theater. Seats are still available at www.actseats.com.

Showtime, Tickets, and Location
Performances run August 28 through August 31, with doors opening at 2:00pm and lights down at 3:00pm each day. Happy hour starts at 2:00pm all four days, with drinks and snacks available for purchase in ACT’s permanent home located in El Centro at Antonio Vega Muñoz 14-46 between Coronel Tálbot and Estévez de Toral. Tickets are available at www.actseats.com.

Meet the cast
Producer David O. Selznick………………….…Bob Fry
Screenwriter Ben Hecht…………………………Tim Appling
Director Victor Fleming…………………….…….Larry Bilksy
Secretary Miss Poppenguhl……….……………Saralee Squires

Meet the crew
Director……………………………..Rick Snyder
Light and Sound……………………Mike Casto
Stage Manager…………………….Fawzi Alami
Set Design………………………….Don Trammel
Costume Coordinator…………..…Alexanne Stone
Prompter……………………………Tamara Moor