The Witches of Eastwick

On a deceptively simple set, designed by Challum Brown, the suburban town of Eastwick and its inhabitants in 1970s America were brought to life in Aberdeen by 37 talented actors supported by a 14 piece orchestra in the pit. By using members of the company to change the set and onstage props the production never lost pace. The ensemble singing and dancing in numbers like “Eastwick Knows”, “Dirty Laundry” and “Dance With The Devil” was truly impressive and among the best I have heard from this company. The three leading ladies – Lynsey Duncan as Alex Spofford, Victoria Cowan as Jane Smart and Janey Cooper as Sukie Rougemount – were all outstanding and worked well together. Their magnificent voices were shown to their best in their solos as they each encountered their dream man – “Waiting For The Music To Begin” (Jane), “The Eye Of The Beholder” (Alex) and “Word, Word, Words” (Sukie). I was particularly impressed by how the latter handled this fast paced list song! My hat is raised to all three for how easily they took to flying high over the stage in the Act One finale “I Wish I May”. Grant Ogston was perfectly cast as the dastardly Darryl Van Horne - the very epitome of the devil brought to life - as he thrust himself on the town and seduced his way into the lives of Jane, Alex and Sukie. His powerful voice came to the fore in his solo “Who’s The Man?” in Act Two in which he was supported by the male ensemble in full dancing mode. He even garnered a few boos and hisses at the walk down! Rhonda Scott clearly relished playing Felicia Gabriel, the self appointed keeper of the town’s morals - especially in her encounters with Darryl - with really strong acting and singing. Scott Jamieson, as her hen pecked husband Clyde, was another who displayed his experience with strong acting and vocals. As the teenage lovers, Jennifer Gabriel and Michael Stofford, Emmah Chibesakunda and Drew Robertson, gave strong performances and their tender duet “Something” was delightful. Strong support was give by Meg Love (Innocence) and Mikey Innes (Fidel, Darryl’s factotum). Congratulations to director Kyle Yeats and everyone involved in this professionally delivered production.

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