The Witches of Eastwick - New Wimbledon Theatre
Review by David Munro
THE WITCHES of Eastwick started life under the aegis of Cameron Mackintosh as a glitzy, musical extravaganza at Drury Lane on July 18, 2000. Starring Ian McShane, Maria Friedman , Lucy Arnaz and Joanna Riding it was not a great success and was moved with a cast change and, if my memory serves, a revised book and production (which presumably is the one now on tour) to the Prince of Wales Theatre where again it did not run all that long. In that production the role of Sukie was played by Rebecca Thornhille who reprises her performance in the current touring production.
The plot concerns three artistic women misfits living in a close community in Eastwick, a small town in America. Bored, one stormy night they envisage their ideal man and unbeknownst to them conjure up a devil, Darryl van Horne who moves into the town, seduces the three women, (giving them supernatural powers along the way) and generally causing mayhem in the community. He is finally defeated and expelled by the three women (now witches) and the town resumes its quiet existence with the women now accepted as part of the community.
If one wonders why this show was considered worth reviving the answer is simple – Marti Pellow. Until last night Mr Pellow was hardly known to me apart from having played Billy Flynn in Chicago (but then who hasn’t). I was told he had been a lead singer in a pop group “Wet Wet Wet” known to all the world bar me; a piece of information which did not prepare me for Mr Pellow’s sensational performance as Darryl van Horne.
He dominated the stage as a macabre gargoyle like figure who moves with the grace of a dancer and at times executes wonderful pieces of mime. At the same time as creating this devilish persona, he interlards it with a petulant spoilt child, furious when he can’t get his own way and all of a sudden very human. It is a masterly performance which well justifies the revival and one I would gladly see again. If more were wanted he sings extremely well, sometimes mellifluously and at others with the harsh dissonance appropriate to the character.
He is well supported by his three consorts; Rebecca Thornhill as Sukie, the literary one, Ria Jones (proving again what a great musical comedy artist she is) as Alexandra the potter and Poppy Tierney as Jane the musician .
The director, Nikolai Foster and designer, Perter Mckintosh have created a delightful small town atmosphere with the townsfolk dressed in bright, almost pantomime coloured costumes and storybook cut-out house flats which drop to create the streets and other areas of Eastwick.
They are well served by the rest of the cast playing the townsfolk; in particular Rachel Izen as Felicia the “queen” of the town and James Graeme her henpecked husband who finally revolts.
The obligatory love interest is provided by Joanna Kirkland and Chris Thatcher as Felicia’s daughter and Alexandra’s son who manage to make the most boring numbers in a not very memorable score even drearier.
There are other longeurs, particularly in the dialogue scenes and the plot tends to move in fits and starts between numbers, which may be the result of revisions to the original book as this is a much pared down version of the original Drury Lane one with new and cut numbers, shorter and tauter scenes and a lot of the “glitz” shed by the wayside. The dance numbers are very mundane (apart from Dance with the Devil ) and the choral singing was ragged.
It is not entirely bereft of spectacle however, there is a pyrotechnical disposal of Darryl van Horne, a flying scene and some clever effects when Felicia is bewitched and strange objects appear from her mouth and body.
This is not basically a good musical and were it not for the incandescent performance of Mr Pellow and the excellent ones of Mesdames Jones, Thornhill and Tierney, it would hardly merit a mention. As it is those four performers make it a night to remember and I salute them for their ability to turn dramatic dross into theatrical gold – they are witches indeed.
The Witches of Eastwick – Book and Lyrics by John Dempsey.
Music by Dana P. Rowe.
Director – Nikolai Foster.
Choreographer – Geoffrey Garratt.
Set designer – Peter Mckintosh.
Lighting – Guy Hoare.
Sound – Colin Pink.
Musical director – Tom Deering.
CAST: Marti Pellow, Ria Jones, Rebecca Thornhill, Poppy Tierney, Rachel Izen, James Graeme, Joanna Kirkland, Chris Thatcher, Victoria Hay, Oliver Walker, Ngo omene Ngofa, Russell Leighton Dixon, Claire Platt, Gregory Clarke, Ross Finnie, Samantha Mercer, Ralph Birtwell, Julie Stark, Vicki Lee Taylor and Oliver Watton.
Presented by Michael Harrison, Kenneth H. Wax and Paul Elliott by arrangement with Cameron Mackintosh Ltd.
New Wimbledon Theatre, The Broadway , Wimbledon, London, SW19 1QG.
Tuesday, September 30 to Saturday, October 4, 2008.
Evenings at 7.30pm.
Matinees on Thursday and Saturday at 2.30pm
Box Office: 0870 060 6646.