The Witches of Eastwick
The Witches of Eastwick
#0The Witches of Eastwick
Posted: 3/30/05 at 4:22pmI know there have been posts about this show before...but I was wondering if there was ever any talk of a US transfer? I never really heard reviews about it but was always intrigued about the production. I've listened to some of the clips from the OCR on amazon.com and the music is very interesting. Was it well-recieved? Anyone on this board see it?
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#1re: The Witches of Eastwick
Posted: 3/30/05 at 4:30pm
I saw it and ADORED it. You'll find other threads about why people think it wouldn't work in the U.S./ never transfered. But the fact is, I found it to be a quirky, intelligent modern musical on par with The Full Monty and Dirty Rotten Scoundrels... that kind of humor. I really don't understand how such CRAP transfers from London, and shows like Witches of Eastwick (which also had an AMAZING cast by the way) and Our House don't. I love Dempsey and Rowe who wrote the score (and also Zombie Prom and The Fix). I'd love to hear more of their stuff.
This show could do so well on Broadway... I can think of so many perfect casting choices... sigh...
[title of show] on Broadway. it's time. believe.
Ajax
Swing Joined: 3/28/05
#2re: The Witches of Eastwick
Posted: 3/30/05 at 4:35pmI saw this show at The Drury Lane in London, it was embarassing to sit through.
#3re: The Witches of Eastwick
Posted: 3/30/05 at 4:42pmThere is no reason why the show would not work specifically in the US. The story is set in the US and the score includes stylistically American music. I think the show would probably do better on Broadway than it did in the West End, but it needs a new set design and some minor score changes. Dance With the Devil and Eye of the Beholder just didn't work on stage.
"What can you expect from a bunch of seitan worshippers?" - Reginald Tresilian
#4re: The Witches of Eastwick
Posted: 3/30/05 at 6:04pm
How was it recieved critically?
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#5re: The Witches of Eastwick
Posted: 3/30/05 at 6:21pmThis is one of my favorite CDs in my collection. I love it. It's absolutely entertaining and a fun CD to have. I love the act one finale with the witches flying over the audience. it's cool to listen to on CD even without being able to see it, you can easily imagine what it must have been like...
wildcat
Broadway Legend Joined: 12/4/04
#6re: The Witches of Eastwick
Posted: 3/30/05 at 7:28pmAlthough "Eye of the Beholder" could easily be replaced with stronger material, I disagree about "Dance With The Devil" not working onstage. The Australian production cast a stunning dancer as the son Michael which really anchored the whole number and stopped the show cold every night. And the choreography by the much awarded Stephen Mear was very good indeed. Also, one of the new songs, "The Glory of Me" is a fabulous eleven o'clocker.
TheatreDiva90016
Broadway Legend Joined: 4/10/04
#7re: The Witches of Eastwick
Posted: 3/30/05 at 7:40pm
I saw it in London and loved it, but then again, Lucie Arnez is a friend of mine, so I may be biased. I was SO hoping it would come over so I could be her dresser.
I heard a rumor a while back that it wasn't dead in the water, but Cameron M. was "waiting for the right time" to bring it over.
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#8re: The Witches of Eastwick
Posted: 3/31/05 at 4:52am
I agree that it does need to be sharpened up a little for Broadway (maybe a different director?), but needless to say I absolutly loved it in London. The authors are very talented and I think they could easy make small changes to the score - though I'm with Wildcat on keeping Dance with the Devil. What it really needs is a charasmatic leading man (which the original cast lacked), with Broadway names as the Witches and maybe more 'celebrity' types as support (Felicia and Clyde): and I think it could be a hit!
The critics were decidedly mixed when it first opened, but after it moved theatres and was retooled (new lyics, sets, different focus and a new song - the fabulous 'Glory of Me') it was re-reviewed and got much better notices. Sadly, it was only doing average business, and 9/11 finished it off completely (along witha couple of other new shows in London at the time)
As for a US production - a reading was done at MTC 18 months ago but nothing came of it, so the shows fate is anyone guess. 'No current plans' is the official line from CML . . . However, it has just had limited amateur release here in the UK, and my local group are premiering it - roll on November!
#9re: The Witches of Eastwick
Posted: 3/31/05 at 9:57amI didn't have a problem so much with the choreography for Dance With the Devil or the scene, but the song just wasn't fiery enough for what was happening on stage. It was just too slow and not exciting enough especially in the placement of the second act when I think a bigger jolt of adrenaline is needed to really propel us through the second half.
"What can you expect from a bunch of seitan worshippers?" - Reginald Tresilian
#10re: The Witches of Eastwick
Posted: 3/31/05 at 10:31am
I agree up to a point, though the song was completely re-ordered between The Lane and the Prince of Wales and consequently zapped along at a much faster pace than it had originally (and on the cast recording). I suppose that it can be argued it was quite a laboured way of making quite a small point, but then, I thought that about the whole of Contact . . . 
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