"Wind in the Magnolias "  
          Spoof of "Gone with the Wind"  
            © Charlotte Pound 2004     

Synopsis: Takes place in the aftermath following the Civil war, at the O'Leary plantation Toora Loora Loo. Seamus O' Leary has amnesia and can't remember where he hid the money from the Yankee's. As a result, the O'Leary family is in dire straights. Villain Dredd Cuttler wants respectability and tries to trick the daughter, Miss Violet O'Leary into marrying him. Hero Ainsley Braveheart, saves the day by finding the hidden money. Many other colorful characters fill in the story.

Run Time: Approx. 45-60 Minutes, can be used as a Dinner Theatre Melodrama
Cast - 10-15  Five male and five female roles. If you have the "soiree`" you can add some extras.

                                 Preview of Melodrama   ACT I

SCENE TWO      DIM Lights  

 

Humorous Opening Scene: (Curtain opens revealing a shadowy parlor of an old plantation) (A dark figure sneaks in and puts a letter on the desk, then hides behind the drapes)

Sissy, the lazy maid, enters with a dusting cloth and proceeds to dust furniture, yawning and in a bored fashion.
 She doesn't see letter. A hand reaches out from behind the drapes and keeps putting the letter where she can see it. It is a big letter that reads, MISS VIOLET O'LEARY -READ AT ONCE!

The maid keeps moving it, and makes it obvious that she doesn't realize that it is an important letter.

The figure reaches out from the drapes and pushes it in front of her, shakes it, etc., Sissy finally sees the letter.

 

(Violet enters and bows to audience)
Violet: Oh fiddle dee dee! (fans herself) Sissy, please get me something cold to drink, it is so warm this evenin'. (She sits by a window and fans herself)

 

Sissy: Yes ma'am. (curtsy). Uh..scuse me Miss Violet, this here letter come for you. (Hands her the letter, curtsies again and exits) 

 

 (Mimi enters in a "mother hen" fashion)

 

Mimi: Violet, you shouldn't be sittin by the window. That night air is bad, you'll catch cold. Girl. ain't you got no sense in that head of yours by now. I try and I try.(She puts a shawl around Violet's shoulders, as Violet reads the letter)

 

Violet: (reading letter) Oh Fiddle, dee,dee! I don't need a shawl! (looks up & smiles) But thank you, Mimi. You are the dearest friend I have. You've been with me since we were children and all through the war. I just don't know what I would do on my own ....with Pa like he is. (continues to read letter)

(Sissy enters with a pitcher and a glass on a tray, puts it down and exits)

 

Mimi: Yes, it is sad about poor Mista O'Leary. (shakes head sadly) He can't remember one day from the next...O Lawsy me... (sighs)

 

Violet: (reads letter, gasps and wails) Oh no. Mimi.....it can't be! It's terrible, it's horrible.....Oh Mimi.....

 

Mimi: What it is Violet? Oh mercy! What is it? Tell me what in the world is so terrible?

 

Violet: This is a letter from that no good Yankee, Dredd Cuttler, the banker. The taxes are due on Toora Loora Loo. He's coming over this evenin' to discuss it. (sniffs) Oh Mimi, since the war, and with Pa like he is, I don't know what I shall evermore do. If Pa could only remember where he hid the money, when those low down Yankees came.

 

Mimi: (smiles) Now don't worry Violet, I sent ole Jeb to fetch Judge Parker.  I know you've been frettin' about your Pa and the money situation, so I sent for help early this mornin. Judge Parker'll help us. He always said, if we ever need him, don't hesitate to send word. So that's what I did.

 

Violet: Oh thank heavens! Since Pa can't remember where he hid the money or the silver, we have no way to pay the taxes. The only thing we have left is this land and this plantation. (she cries, Mimi's hands her a handkerchief)

(Violet looks up with resolve) But one thing I do know!No low down Yankee skunk is going to take Toora Loora Loo from me! There must be a way to get the money for the taxes.

                                 

  END OF PREVIEW