Here is the NDJ review of the Show - Jo Feesey came on the Dress Rehearsal...
She loved it, and so will you, so if you haven't got your ticket yet, get on the phone to the box office now!!
Box Office: 01271 324242 (Last night Saturday 12th July!)
THE WITCHES OF EASTWICK, QUEEN'S THEATRE, JULY 9 - 12
“The Witches of Eastwick” – a gothic tale from the Yorkshire fells? Nowhere near, as I was soon to discover as I settled down in the Queen’s Theatre for the North Devon premiere of the musical, originally produced in London by the highly acclaimed Cameron Mackintosh. The technically demanding show was always going to be a challenge, but then Braunton Productions aren’t shy when it comes to thinking outside the box.
As the cartoon-like scenery rolled onto the stage and the first few notes from the flute filled the auditorium I was captured. I had fallen under the spell of the enchanting little town of Eastwick, and would remain so for the rest of the evening.
With their perfectly conventional families in their perfect picket fenced little houses, in true musical comedy style, it was only a matter of time before the lives of the townsfolk turned sour. During the scene-setting opening number ‘Eastwick Knows’ the rhythm of their idyllic existence is broken by a sudden storm, sending all the residents for cover.
Three exceptions to the Stepford-style women of the town are Jane, Alexandra and Sukie – three beautifully diverse ‘witches’, all bending the rules when it comes to monogamy.
Jane, played by Sophie Parry, is the ring-leader both in terms of the plot and during the complicated harmonising musical numbers. Alexandra, played by Kathryn Burgess, effortlessly delivers many witty one-liners. Sukie, played by Debbie Otani, is cute and ditsy and has trouble expressing how she feels, explained in ‘Words, Words, Words’, in which Otani gives a show-stopping performance of a very, needless to say, wordy song.
During the storm the trio meet at Alexandra’s house to discuss men, men and more men. After a few martinis they dream up their perfect man, coming to the conclusion he must be ‘handsome like the Devil but perfectly divine’.
Enter Darryl Van Horne. Played by Ian Goodenough, he explodes into the lives of the Eastwick folk wearing a red shirt, clad in gold chains, and boasting ‘cold hands’. And, shock horror, he’s from New York. Darryl delivers joke after joke (not all suitable for young ears) and Goodenough’s Jim Carrey-esque expressions and charisma only add to the humour.
Other stand-out performers include Liz Ford and Alan Bailey as the comedy duo Felicia and Clyde Gabriel, from the outside a perfect small town couple, but with clear problems under the surface. It is during one of their spats that Clyde delivers my favourite line of the show. Felicia asks Clyde if he is coming to the concert, to which he replies ‘you can go, I might put my head in the oven for a while’. The dead-pan line is delivered perfectly by Bailey. Ford excels as Felicia, giving her a Hyacinth Bouquet quality.
Their daughter Jennifer, played by Sarah Ford, is dating Michael, played by Martin Youngs. Together the couple are unbelievably cute and their duets make you want to go ‘ah’. Youngs particularly stands out during the dance numbers, and is a key player in my favourite dance scene ‘Dance with the Devil’, which is beautifully choreographed to give the impression the townsfolk are dancing under Darryl’s spell. It really is a joy to watch, very Rocky Horror.
For a time all things in the town are on a real high. The climax of act one is both dramatic and very well executed, and clearly reflects the ‘anything is possible’ aura surrounding Darryl.
However, after a while the ‘Dirty Laundry’ turns black as does the humour, and the witches wonder whether they should have been more careful what they wished for. The final scene is dramatically played out culminating in another special effect, again professionally performed.
From start to finish this show kept me gripped, a testament to Jake Goodenough’s direction. The incredibly strong cast carried the plot forward smoothly and were backed by a great orchestra, fabulous sets and high quality special effects. Little town Eastwick – big hit Barnstaple.
