Ladies Night Out – February 12

Moonlight and Magnolias – Pheasant Run Resort

By Ken Bounds

On Sunday, February 12, our members had the opportunity to treat their Valentine to dinner and a play.  Our ladies night out event was the play Moonlight and Magnolias presented by Fox Valley Repertory at Pheasant Run Resort in St. Charles.  Everyone began gathering around 1:00 pm for cocktails on an unusually pleasant mid-winter day.  President Tom O’Donnell presented a white corsage to each lady.

The play began at 2:00 at the intimate Mainstage Theatre.  Moonlight and Magnolias was hilariously performed and is based on actual facts.  Famed Hollywood producer David O. Selznick acquired the movie rights to Gone with the Wind a month after the novel was published.  After taking two years to cast the movie, Selznik began shooting in January 1939; three weeks into shooting the historical epic, the script just wasn’t working.  Selznik fired director George Cukor, pulled Victor Fleming off The Wizard of Oz, and locked himself, Fleming, and Chicago writer Ben Hecht in his office for five days until they re-created the screenplay.  With only peanuts and bananas to sustain them, they worked through and acted out Margaret Mitchell’s bestseller and in the process made movie history.  The play dramatizes that five-day episode, re-creating what must have been a unique Hollywood tale.  The acting was first-rate and most of us had tears of laughter in our eyes.

After the play we had another opportunity for meeting in the lounge area for some lively conversation where we were joined by Joe & Marie Dispensa.  Joe just had knee-replacement surgery less than two weeks earlier and was getting around surprisingly well.  Great to see you out and about, Joe.  Next we moved to the Harvest Restaurant for a three-course gourmet dinner.  The service was excellent and the meal was outstanding.  We express our thanks to Joe Novak for setting up a delightful afternoon and evening of entertainment and dining.

Thanks also to everyone who attended, including our host Joe Novak with Millie Olds, Ken & Carolyn Bounds, Tom & Judy Buscaglia, Joe & Marie Dispensa, Lloyd & Gladys Duzell, Earl & Gene Heintz, Joe & Nell Kozmic, Tom & Madeleine O’Donnell, Joe & Delice Serritella, John & Barbara Slobodnik, Ron & Colleen Steck, and Len & Irene Vinyard.