The Witches of Eastwick

The comedy musical based on John Updike's book has always had a somewhat mixed response in part, perhaps, because there are no really good, '"can't get them out of your head" songs and in part because it falls somewhere betwen the raunch of shows like Rocky Horror and more traditional musicals. As such, it takes a deft hand to come up with a production that is properly engaging throughout.

This version, played in the intimacy of The Watermill and using their signature player/musician approach, very nearly gets it absolutely spot-on. Craig Revel Horwood has brought out the sexiness and fun and (mostly) kept the pace right up so we don't get to think too much ;-)

Tiffany Graves, Joanna Hickman and Poppy Tierney as the three witches give engaging performances and keep the plot moving along well whilst Alex Bourne plays a suitably smooth Darryl van Horne and Rosemary Ashe's Flicia is definitely ripe for some pay-back (she handles the stage illusions admirably). Sometimes, just a few times, the need for the actors to find, swap and engage with their instruments can slow the pace for a split second and the scene changes will hopefully get a lot smoother and less intrusive but this is a great fun night and well worth a visit.

Do they fly? You'll have to go see for yourself, the illusion worked well enough for me a few rows back from the front ... no complaints there!