[Jenko]

OPENING NIGHT TONIGHT
18th - 22nd April 2006

Orbit Theatre presents the Welsh Premiere of Witches of Eastwick.
This production is a part of 12 productions around the UK that have special licenses to perform the show as an amateur company.

"Three women living humdrum lives in the town of Eastwick conjure up an enigmatic fellow by the name of Darryl Van Horne. Charismatic, charming and quite literally a “horny devil” he seduces them all, which is when all hell breaks loose. Quite literally!"

I am playing Michael Spoffard. I am honoured to be part of such a fantastic show.

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[Jenko]

Thats great! It was a fantastic show.. everyone is so depressed now. This is the worst i have ever been after the show, I could have happily done it for another month. I have never been so excited about doing a show or had so much fun. I will never get bored of the show and we had a great review:

THIS is such a great show, full of songs, dance and humour it is surprising that it has taken Orbit Theatre to bring us the Welsh premiere of this sparkling evening’s entertainment.

Sparkling, that is, in a mischievous and at times wonderfully adult way with its tale of three bored and frustrated women who without realising it summon Old Nick himself to satisfy their needs and desires.
This is a cauldron bubbling with devilish fun that will put a wicked grin on your face from start to finish.
Our three “witches” Alex, Jane and Sukie are three very different women, a sexy dark haired sculptress, an emotional and musical redhead and an intelligent if unconfident blonde.

As single women they just don’t fit into the sleepy and perfect New England town of Eastwick which is controlled with an iron tongue by Felicia Gabriel and a suburban gaggle of henpecked husbands. Just to add to the fun Alex’s son Michael is in love with Felicia Gabriel’s daughter Jennifer.

These original desperate would be housewives are splendidly played by Michelle Richards, Sioned Saunders and Amy Coombes, demonstrating not only good singing voices and dancing flair but a fine talent for comedy.

And their ideal man? In this clever comedy, based on John Updike's best-selling novel, the Devil appears in the form of smooth seducer Darryl Van Horne strongly acted and sung by Lee Gilbert with a wicked sparkle in his eye and just the right amount of menace.

This weaver of magic liberates the women from their humdrum existence and self-limitations; Alex sculpts vast figures, Jane finds the passion in her music – with even her cello playing itself at one stage – and Jane finding the words that always eluded her.
But it is not only Alex, Jane and Sukie who are liberated. Those henpecked men also get fire in their loins and some of the funniest moments of the show are when they gyrate and thrust their way through just one of the many energy-packed song and dance routines.
Similarly when the women of the town appear in sexy red outfits to join in the dance with the Devil the audience erupted into laughter.
Even Chris Jenkins’ charmingly shy and sweetly sung Michael gets a taste for the wild side and chases anything in a skirt around town.
The trio of divorcees is even willing to put up with sharing Darryl Van Horne, their "horny little devil" and live in a foursome of sensual bliss in his scarlet love pad. As Darryl challenges the women to experience all they literally take off without a broom stick in sight, ending the first half of the show to an exhilarating high.
As this comic battle of the sexes romps along the elements of the supernatural thriller add a further frisson of excitement to the proceedings with Felicia Gabriel on the receiving– but we all know if you play with the dark side you are likely to get your fingers burned.
The second half sees twists and turns as Darryl Van Horne’s spell on his three witches starts to unravel but his eye then turns to innocent young Jennifer – having seen off Felicia and her long suffering husband Clyde, played by John Walsh.

Natalie Morgan plays Jennifer as an innocent thing who is transformed by Darryl’s amorous advances. But the three witches decide she has to be saved from the Devil’s clutches. Let a supernatural battle commence – it would spoil the show to reveal the ending. But even if you have seen the film you’ll still enjoy this rollercoaster denouement.

The show is incredibly demanding on its central characters and also requires a vast cast that packs the stage and sings and dances through almost three hours of great routines.

Dana Rowe’s tuneful score is brought to life by musical director Rob Throne Jnr while director Richard Tunley has given Orbit another hit on their hands. This is an amateur production that knocks spots off many a touring professional show.