Slow Burn Theatre Co. casts an inviting spell with its lively, sexy and highly entertaining production of “The Witches of Eastwick,” playing through Sunday, Nov. 3, at Fort Lauderdale’s Broward Center for the Performing Arts.
Director Patrick Fitzwater conjures a terrific 15th season opener for Slow Burn with a first-rate cast who possess strong vocals, superb choreography and solid production values in this story about three “witches” and their devil of a lover.
The origins of “The Witches of Eastwick” start with John Updike’s 1984 novel that was turned into a 1987 movie upon which the musical version is based. While the film version certainly has its fans, many couldn’t connect with the characters despite the cast’s star power, which included Jack Nicholson, Cher, Susan Sarandon and Michelle Pfeiffer. During Slow Burn’s opening-night performance, many audience members commented during intermission and after the production that Slow Burn’s version is much better than the movie.
We wholeheartedly agree. Audience members also won’t have any trouble relating to the characters in this Slow Burn musical.
The three witches are sculptor and single mother Alex (Gail Bennett), cellist and music teacher Jane (Leah Sessa), and newspaper columnist Sukie (Lindsey Corey). These three best friends are seen as “trouble” by the other female residents, especially by Felicia Gabriel (Britte Steele), who considers herself the “first lady” of their small town of Eastwick, Rhode Island, where gossip is power and more valuable than the truth. (“Every wink and every stare is the neighborhood’s affair,” as described in the opening song “Eastwick Knows.”
The three women are single, bored with their mundane lives and regularly get together to lament about their stagnant relationships over martinis and peanut butter brownies. They also have unknowingly formed a coven and long for that “manner of man in one man,”
They get more than they bargained for — but also what they needed — when devilish Daryl Van Horne (Philip Bryan) blows into Eastwick, buying the historic Lenox House and planning all kinds of “improvements.” This sets Felicia on a tirade as she had planned to raise enough money to buy the house through the Preservation Society. She’s also furious that Daryl wants to make changes
Daryl doesn’t care about Felicia’s anger. As he says, he’s gone up against more powerful foes. He’s after Alex, Jane and Sukie, seducing each in turn, encouraging each to find their inner strength and forming their own little community. Their actions scandalize Eastwick, turning them even more into outcasts.
The witches thrive under Daryl, finding talents and independence they didn’t know they had. They become forces of nature. But they have a wake-up call when they realize that Daryl isn’t just devious, but evil and that he has gone too far. Ultimately, they learn how to believe in themselves and find their own muse, passion and moral center.
Slow Burn’s “The Witches of Eastwick” has what the movie version lacked: a sense of fun and playfulness, even when the plot takes a dark turn.
As the witches, Bennett, Corey and Sessa do much magic. Each has a wonderful singing voice, with acting chops to match. Their story arc — from plain, almost drab, and stymied by their life choices to sexual seductresses with gorgeous clothes — is believable. These three actors form a solid ensemble, playing off each other with mettle and showing the depth of their friendship. Corey and Sessa are most familiar to South Florida audiences, and Bennett is a welcome addition.
You have to give the devil his due (you knew that pun was coming) because Bryan quickly ingratiates himself as Daryl. He comes on stage with a smarmy attitude, wearing a red shirt opened to show his chest, a look that would repel most women today. But Bryan shows how his character is able to make these women think he is the most perfect man they’ve met. As the saying goes, the devil’s greatest trick was convincing the world he didn’t exist, attributed to poet Charles Baudelaire and to the movie “The Usual Suspects.” Bryan’s tricks are a strong voice, lithe dancing and imposing stage presence.
Steele is on fire as Felicia, the woman you love to hate. She’s the ultimate villain who, as one character says, rules the town with a short leash. Her song “Evil” is a showstopper.
Lending solid support is the always reliable Christopher Dreeson as Felicia’s meek husband, Clyde Gabriel, who also is having an affair with Sukie. There are also amusing cameos from Jonathan Eisele as Fidel and Stella Macey as Little Girl, and Tony Carrubba as Michael Spofford and Laura Swartzendruber as Jennifer Gabriel are appealing as young lovers.
The 25-member cast showcases Fitzwater’s ability at wrangling a large number of actors, keeping them on their toes in his other role as choreographer along with dance captain Sarah Sun Park.
Credit Rick Peña’s costume designs for capturing the witches’ personalities, which go from ordinary to stunning, as well as the perfect shirtwaist dresses for most of the female residents and Felicia’s over-the-top outfits. Adding to the production values are scenic design by Kelly Tighe and outstanding lighting design by Clifford Spulock.
And thank you, Slow Burn, for enhancing this production by having a live band led by music director and conductor Travis Smith.
Slow Burn’s “The Witches of Eastwick” gives the devil his due and receives divine inspiration from its resident witches.
IF YOU GO
WHAT: “The Witches of Eastwick,” presented by Slow Burn Theatre Co.
WHEN: Through Sunday, Nov. 3; an open-captioned performance is set for Sunday, Oct. 27
WHERE: Broward Center for the Performing Arts’ Amaturo Theater, 201 SW Fifth Ave., Fort Lauderdale
COST: Tickets start at $72.50; get them by calling 954-462-0222, visiting browardcenter.org or in person at the Broward Center’s Auto Nation Box Office
INFORMATION: slowburntheatre.org
A version of this review was published in floridatheateronstage.com.