By SARAH SHMERLING | Editor-in-Chief
Theatre Palisades’ latest production “Bell, Book & Candle” opened at Pierson Playhouse on Friday, June 2, to an almost full house—and with it came a love story, witchcraft, and a bewitching cast and crew.
The play, written by John van Druten, tells the story of Gillian Holroyd, a witch who casts a spell on her neighbor, a publisher, in part to keep him from a rival and part because she is attracted to him. He falls immediately in love with her, bringing up marriage just a couple of weeks into their relationship, but, as the story goes, witches are incapable of falling in love.
“Ultimately, Gillian breaks off with her companions in witchery, preferring the normal and human love offered to her by the attractive publisher,” according to a synopsis provided by Theatre Palisades. “But before the happy conclusion of romance, Gillian comes very near to losing him … she realizes that one has to stop living in terms of ‘self’ if love is ever to be realized.”
Jasmine Haver leads the cast in the role of Gillian—her Theatre Palisades debut. The graduate of the American Academy of Dramatic Arts gave a standout performance from when she first arrived on stage to the final curtain. Even though she pursues the publisher under false pretenses at first, she is an easy character to root for, wanting things to work out in her favor as she learns how to handle human emotions.
Andrew Cereghino, a Palisades native who is also on stage with Theatre Palisades for the first time, plays her love interest, Shepherd Henderson, the publisher. The cast is rounded out by Laura Goldstein as Miss Holroyd (aka Aunt Queenie), Jeff Coppage as Nicky Holroyd (brother to Gillian and nephew to Aunt Queenie) and Michael-Anthony Nozzi as book writer Sidney Redlitch.
The cast gels together well, offering an intensely personal glimpse into the family unit of Gillian, Nicky and Aunt Queenie, all of whom have their own approaches into how they handle magic and powers.
Nozzi, who most recently graced the Theatre Palisades’ stage in the role of Bobby Franklyn in “Run For Your Wife,” is truly a hoot. His costumes and mannerisms are memorable, providing a more light-hearted narrative to contrast the soul-searching mission Gillian is embarked on.
It is, once again, impressive how immersive a space Pierson Playhouse becomes with just a few tricks. With a playlist of catchy tunes related to magic, a lit candle and the changing of the colors of lights, one can really feel the magic taking place on stage—reverberating through the audience.
The play is split into three acts—starting on Christmas Eve through two months later—all taking place in 1978 in Gillian’s New York City apartment, with set and lighting designed by Sherman Wayne.
“Bell, Book & Candle” is produced by Martha Hunter and Maria O’Connor, and directed by Brandon Polanco.
“Written and produced in 1950, I have found this play to be ahead of its time in understanding witches and magic,” Polanco wrote in the Director’s Notes section of the playbill. “A witch is neither male nor female; it is a human being who believes in magic as a way of life.”
Performances, which take place at 941 Temescal Canyon Road, will run through July 8, with shows on Fridays and Saturdays at 8 p.m., as well as Sundays at 2 p.m. Tickets are $22 for adults, $20 for seniors and students.
For more information or to purchase tickets, visit theatrepalisades.org or call 310-454-1970.
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