WITCH  by Carol Kaufman Segal

           

The Geffen Playhouse is featuring the West Coast premier of Witch, an excellent new play by Jen Silverman, inspired by The Witch of Edmonton written by William Rowley, Thomas Dekker, and John Ford in 1621.

           

A stranger named Scratch (Evan Jonigkeit) has arrived in Edmonton with the purpose of convincing the townspeople to sell their souls to him in return for gaining their life ambitions.  You see, Scratch is a Devil of a man who is trying to make his quota.  He finds two people with whom he has little trouble convincing them to sell their souls to the Devil to gain what they want in their lives   

            

He is aware of the wealthy Sir Arthur Banks (Brian George) a widower who hopes to see his only son Cuddy (Will Von Vogt) take his place when he is gone.  Unfortunately, Cuddy doesn’t show much interest and is quite peevish.  On the other hand Frank (Ruy Iskandar), a young man with little future, has wormed his way into Sir Arthur’s life and is determined to become his heir.  One complication on his side, however, is that he is secretly married to Sir Arthur’s housemaid Winnifred (Vella Lovell).  Cuddy and Frank are patsies!

            

He seeks out his next victim who he believes will be an easier conquest to acquire than either Cuddy or Frank since the people of Edmonton have labeled her a witch.  Elizabeth Sawyer (Maura Tierney) is an outcast living alone.  However, he is in for quite a surprise the more times he sees her in his failure to convince her to sell her soul. 

            

Audiences, as well, are surprised by the outcome of this exceptionally intriguing play under the perceptive direction of Marti Lyons.  A marvelous cast creates each character they play to perfection.   The unusual scenic design by Dane Laffrey adds a great deal to the feel of the play.  A fight scene, choreographed by Steve Rankin, is absolutely breath taking.

            

Witch plays Tuesdays through Fridays at 8 PM, Saturdays at 3 PM and 8 PM, and Sundays at 2 PM and 8 PM, in the Audrey Skirball Kenis Theater at the Geffen Playhouse, 10886 Le Conte Ave. Los Angeles.  Tickets are available online at www.geffenplayhouse.org, by phone at (310) 208-5454, or in person at the Geffen Playhouse box office.

            

HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.