9:55am Wednesday 24th September 2008
Marti Pellow brings his own charm to the show
The Witches of Eastwick The Alhambra
It’s a case of be careful what you wish for when three lonely women conjure up the man of their dreams over too many margaritas one night.
When enigmatic playboy Darryl Van Horne arrives in sleepy Eastwick he sets about seducing each of the women, transforming them from frumps into vamps. But is the God-fearing New England town ready for the devilish charmer whose dark side has an increasingly unsettling effect on the community?
This show has the feel of an old-fashioned musical, with a rousing score and operatic touches, but the content is so racy it brought out a ripple of hot flushes in last night’s largely female audience.
As soon as Van Horne made his entrance on an unsuspecting Eastwick – not to mention the unsuspecting audience – the action revved up a gear, building up to some steamy scenes as the three desperate housewives fell under his spell.
The role of Van Horne is so closely associated with Jack Nicholson that comparisons with his ‘horny little devil’ are inevitable. But Marti Pellow firmly stamped his own mark on the character, blending charismatic charm with devilish mischief.
He moved like a panther, prowling around the stage in pursuit of his prey, turning in a flash from twinkly-eyed charmer to dangerous predator to petulant villain.
His arrival on stage drew gasps from the packed audience –“I need a cold shower,” a middle-aged woman behind me whispered – but an accomplished performance proved Pellow more than cuts the mustard as a powerful leading man.
Excellent performances too from the ‘witches’; Poppy Tierney as uptight cellist Jane, Rebecca Thornhill as ditzy reporter Sukie and a fabulous Ria Jones as feisty artist Alexandra. I also enjoyed Rachel Izen as Eastwick’s unfortunate moral guardian Felicia Gabriel, James Graeme as her hapless husband Clyde and Chris Thatcher and Joanna Kirkland as the lovestruck teens caught up in Van Horne’s spell.
The cartoon-like set exploded with colour, from primary-coloured picket fence suburbia to deep red sumptuous boudoir, and Geoffrey Garratt’s witty choreography was the best I’ve seen in a long time.
Highlights included Dirty Laundry and Dance with the Devil.
Sassy, a little silly and far sexier than your average night at the theatre. Ladies, prepare to fall in lust with Marti Pellow all over again.
Runs until Saturday.
