25
ARTS | ENTERTAINMENT
! V E R O
“Bell, Book and Candle” runs from May 10-20 at the Vero Beach Theatre Guild. Performances are Wednesdays and Thursdays at 7 p.m.; Fridays and Saturdays at 8 p.m.; Saturday and Sunday matinees at 2 p.m. For more information, call 562-8300.
!
up the quirkiness factor in his character, depicted by Jack Lemon in the movie. Van Druten’s play provides a saucy combination of sex appeal and comedic levity in a season filled with its share of American drama and tragedy.
2 0 1 2 B E A C H N E W S W E E K L Y
In a sizzling finale to the 20112012 season, a spellbinding production of “Bell, Book and Candle” rounds out a year of American playwrights at the Vero Beach Theatre Guild. In honor of the 100th anniversary of the sinking of the Titanic, the guild focused this year’s productions on iconic American pieces that define the artistry, risk and insight of its writers as they explore society, culture and the human condition. The 1958 film “Bell, Book and Candle” was made famous by a star-studded cast, including Jimmy Stewart in his final role as a romantic lead and sultry Kim Novak as a beguiling witch who trades her magical powers for true love. The play, though, offers its own charms. Written by John Van Druten, this magical story was produced on Broadway in 1950 and starred Rex Harrison and his wife Lilli Palmer along with a coven of witches in New York’s Greenwich Village to represent a growing counter-culture movement in the city. Indeed, there are parallels drawn between the beautiful young witch, Gillian, and her mixture of supernatural and “straight” friends, family and acquaintances and the hit television show “Bewitched,” starring Elizabeth Montgomery as Samantha Stevens. However, director Pat Kroger says the inspiration for the TV show was the 1942 film, “I Married a Witch.” Kroger studied theater arts at Ohio University and later earned a graduate degree at the University of Southern California in act-
ing. She sits on the Guild’s board with Larry Thompson, cast as author Sydney Redlitch in the play, and she was on the committee that chose the all-American theme this year. “This play is a lot of fun, because there are spells and other quirky things going on, but also because most of the characters change a lot during the course of events,” said Kroger. The title of the play is derived from the process excommunication by the church for things such as practicing witchcraft, which in many traditions begin with the phrase “ring the bell, open the book, light the candle.” Ironically, in the case of Gillian, who is a witch, it is she who is excommunicated for falling in love with a human. Gillian is played by the beautiful Alexis Riley, a returning actress to the Guild stage who is also a local audiologist. Her love interest, Shep Henderson, is portrayed by the immensely talented James Anthony Davis, in his third major role this season. There are incantations, comedic spells, a cast of colorful characters and a cat named Pyewacket, who assists Gillian in casting her love potion over Davis’ character. A newcomer to the stage is Isabelle Garrett, who plays Queenie, Gillian’s protective aunt who is also endowed with supernatural powers. “When Isabelle walked into the audition, she looked exactly how I saw the character in my head,” said Kroger. Anthony Aruffo, who plays Nicky, is also a newcomer to the Guild. A 24-year-old graduate of the University of Pennsylvania, Kroger encouraged him to amp
1 0 ,
LISA RYMER VERO BEACH NEWSWEEKLY
M A Y
End of season sizzles with ‘Bell, Book and Candle’