TTC Presents:
Moonlight & Magnolias
By Ron Hutchinson
Directed by Helen Thorpe
The Hilarious (Almost) “True” story of the making of Gone with the Wind…It’s bananas!
BREAKING NEWS!!!
It’s 1939, Hollywood is abuzz, legendary mogul producer David O. Selznick has just shut down production on the most eagerly anticipated movie in history “Gone with the Wind,” by scrapping the umpteenth version of the script, and sacking the latest director! With his reputation on-the-line, and the expense clock-a-ticking, Selznick is determined to produce a rewrite in just five days. How? By kidnapping the formidable director Victor Flemming off the set of The Wizard of Oz, (he had just squabbled with the Munchkins and came to blows with star Judy Garland), and engaging the brilliant, but reluctant script-doctor Ben Hecht, who was “possibly the only person in America who has not read the book?!” to urgently sort the film and script out. Summoning both men to his office, Selznick locks the doors, shuts the shades, and with only a diet of bananas, popcorn and peanuts the three men work night and day, with Flemming and Selznick hilariously re-enacting the whole story and every character in it, to a much-baffled Hecht. So, creating out of the madcap chaos, what will become the magical blueprint for one of the most successful and beloved films of all time, whilst fending off the film’s many stars, the press, the author, gossip columnists and Selznick’s father-in-law MGM’s Louis B Meyer! Phew!
Loosely based on fact, Moonlight & Magnolias is a farcical homage to the making of this ionic film and the late 1930’s Hollywood film-making system, warts n all...It’s pure comedic genius!
DON’T MISS THIS RIOTOUS SCREWBALL FARCE!
TRINITY THEATRE, TUNBRIDGE WELLS
Box Office: www.trinitytheatre.net
This amateur production of Moonlight & magnolias is presented by arrangement with Concord Theatricals Ltd. On behalf of Samuel French
When?
25th February - 28th February 2026 at 7:30pm
Matinees Friday & Saturday at 2:30pm
Where?
Trinity Theatre, Church Road,
Tunbridge Wells
*Opening night offer: 2 TICKETS for £32*
Evenings: £20
Concessions: £17
Friends & Matinees: £16
Under 16s: £15
Age guidance 8+
Book online: www.trinitytheatre.net or call 01892 678 678 TRINITY THEATRE, TUNBRIDGE WELLS
Reviews:
**** "Fast, sharp and funny..." **** The Daily Telegraph
**** "A sheer joy. It's years since I've laughed out loud so much at a play." **** The British Theatre Guide
****“You’ll come out of the theatre smiling and absolutely shattered by the wisecracking energy crackling about the stage from the four superb actors. Margaret Mitchell must be giggling in her grave.” **** The Newbury Weekly News
“A Hollywood dream-factory farce.” – Chicago Sun Times
“Consumers of vintage Hollywood insider stories will eat up Hutchinson’s diverting conjecture as to what actually happened behind those closed doors.” – Variety
“An affectionate portrait of the legendary movie producer David O. Selznick and his collaborators… plenty of genuine wit in the dialogue, and the characters are drawn with such affection that one can’t help but cheer for them.” – New York Post
The Cast
Character | Actor |
|---|---|
David O. Selznick | James Klech |
Victor Fleming | Nick Smith |
Ben Hecht | David Smith |
Miss Poppenghul | Mary Alderson |
The Crew
Director | Helen Thorpe |
Production Team | Chris Howland, Phil Hardy-Bishop & Dave Smith |
DSM | Carol Smith |
Lighting Design | James Dean |
Sound & VT Design | Andrew Swann |
Props | Christina Blaney, Jenni Bekker, Rebecca Clow, Patsy Dale, Rebecca Justins, Fiona Young, Claire Sylvester |
Wardrobe | Fiona Young & Bryan Davies (BDP Costumes) |
Marketing | Helen Thorpe, Fiona Young, Michael Sutherland, Kimberley Joyce, Paul Donlon & Phil Hardy-Bishop |
Set Designer | Anna Cierpial |
Set build | Chris Howland, Jon Carden, Sam Foot & Trinity Tech & TTC Members & Friends |
Fight Coordinator | Rebecca Justins & Helen Thorpe |
Specialist painters | Annette Tranter, Judith Casswell & Fiona Edge |
Photography | Andrew Swann |
Marketing | Helen Thorpe, Andrew Swann, Fiona Young, Kim Joyce, Michael Sutherland |
