Review: Gone With The Wind

Apr 25 2008 by Philip Fisher, Western Mail

New London Theatre

SIR Trevor Nunn's ambitious re-staging of Gone With The Wind is an unconventional musical – more a faithful reproduction of the classic movie with songs.

In order to capture such a big novel/film on stage, Sir Trevor regresses to the narrative technique that he perfected for the RSC with Nicholas Nickleby, some 20 years ago, with everyone chipping in and completing each other's sentences. This maintains drive throughout three and three quarter hours – roughly the same duration as the movie.

Commencing in 1861, this stirring tale is one of love among the losers of the old, slaving South during the American Civil War.

The director builds his show around American actress, Jill Paice who he has imported from Broadway to play the Vivien Leigh role of Scarlett O'Hara. Miss Paice rises to the occasion – a stunning beauty with a sweet voice and sympathetic manner, although she might be a little too nice to really excel in this heartless part. Perhaps the high point of the evening is when she brings the house down (Atlanta having already spectacularly gone that way) with the interval curtain song, Gone With The Wind.

Before then, this wilful teen had seduced blond Ashley Wilkes, Edward Baker-Duly, married on the rebound and then found herself widowed at 16. She is then destined to suffer untold tragedies over the next dozen years, which see 600,000 men die in a civil war over slavery.

The two figures fated to direct the young woman's future could hardly be more different. Tiny Madeleine Worrall plays pale, modest bluestocking, Melanie Wilkes, the woman who unwittingly “stole” her cousin Ashley from the heroine. Melanie represents goodness while Rhett Butler is its antithesis. Pop Idol discovery Darius Danesh, is a Clark Gable lookalike, towering over his fellows like some basketball star. Danesh has just enough charm and wit to carry this role off, together with a gravelly voice that calls to mind Nick Cave after a heavy night.

Designer, John Napier has done a wonderful job, with a stage thrusting into the audience and a wood-effect set that surrounds them. His budget may have been big but costume designer, Andreane Neofitou was not left short, excelling with the ladies, especially Scarlett who must have around 15 costume changes during the evening.

The music by theatrical newcomer Margaret Martin, who does far better with the book and lyrics based on Margaret Mitchell's classic novel, rarely excites and often instantly fades from the memory. Strangely, while on leaving the theatre pretty much every Rhett Butler song has gone, much of the best is left to the slaves led by Broadway star NaTasha Yvette Williams, who gives a fine performance as Mammy, Jina Burrows' Prissy and an ensemble headed by Ray Shell in the stirring Follow on the Wings of a Dove.

These stars wowed a first-night audience that had the paparazzi snapping frantically as it was adorned by celebrities including Barbara Windsor, Joan Collins, Vanessa Feltz and Duncan James.

Gone With The Wind works best as a re-telling of a classic tale in a fresh style but then, there has already been a film that did that. Whether today's soundbite society can accept such a long play in the guise of a musical, even one of high quality, remains to be seen, especially with top price tickets at £60. One fears that it won't and that will be something of a pity.

For details, call the box office on 0870 890 0141

4/5