Bell, Book And Candle at The Colony Theatre

Bell, Book And Candle

The Colony Theatre
555 North Third Street Burbank

Before there was Bewitched, before Wicked and Harry Potter, there was Bell, Book and Candle. Gillian is a beautiful witch living in 1950s New York City who is smitten with her handsome upstairs neighbor. She casts a little spell, and he is immediately and completely captivated by her. But Gillian must be careful — if she falls in love with him, she could lose her magical powers forever. Will she be undone by her own mischief? A frothy and spellbinding romantic comedy, Bell, Book and Candle shows that love might be the most bewitching spell of all.

Thru - Nov 21, 2010

Price: $20-$42

Show Type: Comedy

Box Office: 818-558-7000

www.colonytheatre.org

Bell, Book And Candle Reviews

Average Rating based on 4 reviews

Highly Recommended
Recommended
Somewhat Recommended
Not Recommended

LA Weekly - Somewhat Recommended

"... The duo fares better in Act 2, when Geer's character, having something to conceal, is presented with a real conflict. The flames of passion between them never flare, however, adding another deficit to the production. William Bradley does a respectable turn as Gillian's mischief-making brother, while both Mary Jo Catlett as her dippy aunt and Benton Jennings as a nosy writer rely on comedic shtick."

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- Deborah Klugman

Backstage - Somewhat Recommended

"...The performers work hard to evoke laughs, and each has moments to shine. Yet the narrative tends to meander, and the production lacks a sufficient sense of urgency, so van Druten's themes of loneliness and human fragility don't come to fruition. Geer is a resourceful actor, capturing Gillian's brittle sophistication and her befuddlement at experiencing human emotion. But the script offers little support in making her dilemma meaningful or worthy of empathy. Newcomer has fun with straight-arrow Shepherd's bewilderment as the character grapples with sudden passions he can't comprehend. There are delightful supporting turns by Bradley and Catlett, whose giddy enchantress is tickled pink that society doesn't know about her powers. Jennings is funny as the alcoholic writer who believes witches lurk around every corner. Israel's incorporation of a few bars from Rodgers and Hart's lovely ballad "Bewitched, Bothered, and Bewildered" is a sweetly nostalgic touch. "

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- Les Spindle

Stage Scene LA - Highly Recommended

"...Directed with flair, energy, and polish by Richard Israel in his first Colony assignment, Bell, Book, And Candle makes for two of the freshest, funniest, and downright sexiest hours of romantic comedy around town."

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- Steven Stanley

StageHappenings.com - Somewhat Recommended

"...Bell, Book and Candle was a play written in 1950 by John Van Druten and first performed on Broadway in 1951 starring Rex Harrison and Lilli Palmer. Columbia Pictures produced it in 1958 starring James Stewart, Kim Novak, Jack Lemmon, Ernie Kovacs and Hermione Gingold, a potent cast to be sure. It has its moments of humor and of course was a charming vehicle then. But today, I believe audiences will find it much less magical and enchanting than it was over fifty years ago."

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- Carol Kaufman Segal

Bell, Book And Candle at The Colony Theatre