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Picture
Little Theatre Company
The Witches of Eastwick 
The Palace Theatre 
8-11th October 2014
Most of us will be familiar with the film version of this show, starring Jack Nicholson as Darryl Van Horne, alongside Cher, Michelle Pfeiffer and Susan Sarandon as the eponymous witches.  The Witches of Eastwick is based on the novel by John Updike about three bored and unsatisfied women in a smug New England town who are seduced and empowered by the demonic Darryl Van Horne.  Cameron Mackintosh produced it not once but twice, first in 2000, and then in a revised version the following year, but the show, by the American writers John Dempsey and Dana P Rowe never did great box office business and failed to transfer to Broadway. Craig Revel Horwood also directed a recent revival to rather limp reviews and so it has been left to the amateur groups to pick it up, dust it down and see what they can do to boost their box office sales; and Little Theatre Club are certainly giving it their very best.

The story is set in the small New England town of Eastwick, Rhode Island.  Here live the three unhappy divorcees Alexandra Spofford, Jane Smart, and Sukie Rougemont, played by Lianne Larthe, Claire Wilson and Louisa Strachan.  All three girls grabbed their parts by (dare I say) the horns and produced some fantastic work.  It is clear that they have been working together for some time and their vocal harmonies are very tight. They also had a hefty amount of dialogue to deliver.  Claire Wilson, however, stood out with a clearly defined characterisation and powerful singing voice.

One stormy night, over a heady brew of brownies and weak martinis, frustrated and bored by their mundane lives in the town of Eastwick Alex, Jane and Sukie wish for their perfect man. In no time at all, 'all manner of man in one man' comes to life in the form of a charismatic stranger, a devil-like character, Darryl Van Horne, played with just the right amount of unsubtle sexiness that the part requires.  Subtleness is certainly something that Tim Cater, who plays the part of the horny devil, has none of as he sweeps into Eastwick atop a wave of gossip.  

Seducing each of the women in turn Darryl teaches them how to further expand the powers locked within.  The seduction scenes are not for the faint hearted as the couples are exceptionally tactile and I really enjoyed each of the girls’ songs as Darryl succeeds in bedding them.  Louisa Strachan does an outstanding job with the song Words, Words, Words, with it’s tongue twisting speed, the song must put the fear of God into any actress who has to perform it but Louisa does it with aplomb.  The final scene in Act 1 has the girls literally flying over The Palace stage and this is well worth the wait.

Stephanie Wilson as the town’s self appointed first citizen, Felicia Gabriel and Dave Lobley as her long suffering husband, Clyde, give the production some of it’s best comedy turns and I was also really impressed with Tobias Smith and Alice Masters as Michael Spofford and Jennifer Gabriel. Both have great voices and are certainly ones to look out for in the future; Alice especially in her moving emotional scenes towards the end of the show.

Bradley Green has had his work cut out with such a large cast and you can see that every single one of them has worked hard on this show.  I particularly enjoyed the dance numbers in Dirty Laundry and The Glory of Me.  

The star of the show is undoubtedly Tim Cater as Daryl Van Horne who slimes his way around the stage and yet retains enough sex appeal for the ladies to be lured into seduction.  He has some great comedic put downs which he delivers with perfect timing. His downfall though, is rather enjoyable and gives the audience a few good laughs to boot.  

From a technical perspective, I was a little disappointed with some of the rather long scene changes but I’m sure this is just a first night hiccup that will be rectified as the week goes on.

Some of the audience may feel slightly uncomfortable with the swearing and sexual references made in this show and at times there was a certain amount of “Carry On film” type sexual innuendo that I feel is a tad tiresome these days but would definitely appeal to the ‘lads’.  This may be a good show for the ladies to bring their other halves to perhaps?  As one female member of the audience told me, “I think the men will like watching all that sexy stuff!”  

Well, to be perfectly honest, if you don’t like it, as Darryl Van Horne himself says, “T.U.F.F……..TITTIES!!!”
WHAT THE AUDIENCE THOUGHT

Danielle Stallard, 23 from Thundersley

“I thought Tim was amazing and I loved Claire Wilson’s voice.”

Laura Hurrell, 31 from Hadleigh

“Tim’s energy level and characterisation was 100% throughout and the three girls were very solid although I thought the scene changes were a bit too long in places.”

Alexandra Hobart from Canvey Island

“I felt a bit embarrassed at times.  Some of it was a bit shocking.”

“I really liked the girl who played Jennifer, she really stood out.”

Ros Merchant from Stanford-le-Hope

“This was a birthday treat for me, I just thought that it looked like a good show.  The witches flying was the best part for me and the washing line song.”

“The orchestra were a little loud though.”



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