witches of eastwick question

[CATSNYrevival]

Posted: 12/18/04 at 7:38pm

I'm revisiting my CD and I have a question as I just found out that the act one finale ended not only with the three of them flying, but flying over the audience and up to the balcony? Can someone please explain to me how this was achieved... thanks.

[mikelg80]

Posted: 12/18/04 at 7:42pm

Witches of Eastwick used technology developed for the millenium dome. the end of act 1 was awsome, the witches started by rising off the couch and floating in the air, then all of a sudden they descended over the audience all around the theatre, ending up back on stage for the last verse before the end of the act. It was quite spectacular.

[showfan2]

Posted: 12/18/04 at 7:48pm

I happen to see Witches...and it was really pretty lame... they started sitting on this couch..with all these pillows.... and kind of sat among the pillows burying themselves in the as best they could....all the while they were being connected to the harnesses with the cables.... You could actually see the pillows moves a little....as the crew was connected them....

Then they rose and came over the audience.....very slow...and looked kind of like they were on swings.....

All looked kind of silly to me.... but the whole show lacked magic and style

[mikelg80]

Posted: 12/18/04 at 7:55pm

I loved the show myself, thought it was one of the best new musicals in years. the three leading ladies were worth the ticket price alone.

[Unknown User]

Posted: 12/18/04 at 9:10pm

I saw the show from one of the side orchestra boxes at the Drury Lane.

While I wasn't knocked over by the show itself, one reason I believe is because I found the lead actor rather slimy and unattractive, I did find it enjoyable, if not memorable. Skillfully acted and directed.

One thing I do remember are the female leads flying over the audience. That was actually nicely done and remains one, if not the only thing, I recall. Don't ask me to hum a song, or even name one.

[InfiniteTheaterFrenzy]

Posted: 1/23/05 at 3:36pm

I found Witches of Eastwick to be absolutely wonderful when I saw it about four years ago. The performers were fantastic. The writers, Dempsey and Rowe, are hysterical, and I also love their "Zombie Prom" and "The Fix". The flying part was spectacular and as one of the actresses flew above us, she noticed some guy near me looking up her skirt, and improv- ed some pretty funny jokes. The score is fantastic, I think. "The dirty laundry just goes on and on and on and on..."
"Something" is also a charming male- female duet. I think the show has lots of great material.
The flying wasn't SO contrived. As much as any other show where characters "take flight". Hehe.

[Mr Roxy]

Posted: 1/23/05 at 3:41pm

Enjoyed the show immensely & was happy to see Ian Mc Shane win a Golden Globe for Deadwood

You could see the wires at the top of the theater ceiling & it was sort of a trolley car type contraption. Think it would be a hit in NY if it was produced here as it has a pre sold name

The CD is one of our favorites

[InfiniteTheaterFrenzy]

Posted: 1/23/05 at 3:53pm

I think it would be a hit if it was re- worked a bit in NY as well... Wasn't there a workshop awhile ago with Emily Skinner? I think I recall that..
Come on, Cameron Mackintosh, bring it over here!

[CATSNYrevival]

Posted: 1/23/05 at 3:55pm

I would much rather see him mount THE WITCHES OF EASTWICK instead of MARRY POPPINS for the next season...

[Jwaa]

Posted: 1/23/05 at 3:57pm

It was the best musical i had seen for ages when i saw it....

the flying was wicked, i was right downj in the stallas na dthere were right over me and flying about, twas great, amazing show woo woo!

[InfiniteTheaterFrenzy]

Posted: 1/23/05 at 3:57pm

I agree! (Although I heard from friends that Mary Poppins was great.) Witches of Eastwick seems to have been lost in the abyss, never to transfer. What a shame :-P

[wildcat]

Posted: 1/23/05 at 11:10pm

Trouble is the show lost money wherever it played and it's such an expensive piece to mount, with all the special effects and the large cast, that The Mackintosh organisation have given up on it. It is admittedly a very thin if enjoyable piece, but one thing that I heard a lot during the Australian run was how morally suspect it is. Are the women being punished at the end for having explored their sexuality and asserted their individuality? Why are two basically harmless people murdered because they are seen as bores or troublemakers?

[VeuveClicquot]

Posted: 1/23/05 at 11:19pm

Wildcat, that's a terrific observation.

Updike is a bit of a mysognist, and when his book was originally released, I remember critics cringing about his treatment of those three women.

And when you look at it, I think there is room for doubt about his motivations. Not only because of what you pointed out, but the fact that all of the women (who are single, for various reasons) feel incomplete, until this mysterious, hypersexual man comes into their lives.

Of course, one could argue that it was a cautionary, be-careful-of-what-you-wish-for kind of tale, and the three witches learned at the end that being alone was okay. But I suspect that wasn't Updike's intention.

[alterego]

Posted: 1/25/05 at 12:08am

I agree with showfan2 it was pretty lame. The slow lurching of the witches flying makes it (the flying scene) laughable.What may have worked in a large theatre like Drury Lane certainly didn't work in a smaller lightly painted (coloured) auditorium like the Princess in Melbourne, where all the dark cables were very clearly visible. Part of the problem with this show is that the male lead is not remotely likeable, and here the three women were badly underplayed.

[Mr Roxy]

Posted: 1/25/05 at 6:14am

How about melding the 2 shows & having Poppins of Eastwick about a naughty nanny who makes it with the Devil & says the hell with being a naanyy for a bunch of little brats ?

[jo]

Posted: 1/25/05 at 8:24am

I enjoyed the performance but the show didn't leave a memorable impression to me - can't even remember much of the music. Sorry.

Yes, I did remember the 3 witches on harnesses and moving around the ceiling - but I like the sight of CHITTY CHITTY BANG BANG flying better

[Mister Matt]

Posted: 1/25/05 at 9:25am

I enjoyed the show, but I didn't care for the sets (at Prince of Wales). Unfortunately, the flying did n't work when I saw the show. The result was rather bizarre and humorous and the audience left rather flummoxed. I do love most of the score. The only weak numbers I recall were Eye of the Beholder and Dance With the Devil. As for the story, it is a fable. You have to remember that the characters who died did so at the hands of the devil and were not so harmless or blameless. And the "witches" were under his influence. One of the trio was an adulterer and they all used their power not only for personal gain, but for malice as well all the while never questioning the motives of their mysterious lover. As Veuve astutely pointed out, it is very much a cautionary tale, which is clearly illustrated at the very end.