Last night I saw The Witches of Eastwick at The Bradford Alhambra, and I have to say it was terrific, and I would definately go again.
The show is superbly written, but some of the changes from the cast recording (replacing "I Love a Little Town" with "Darryl Van Horne", a new opening to "Another Night at Darryl's") but some are for the beeter, such as shortening "Eastwick Knows" and making "Another Night at Darryl's" a trio between the witches.
The set was terrific, yet very simple (all the house are either slid on or are flown in, with Darryl's house being on tracks and revolving. The costumes we're also excelent.
Ria Jones as Alex, Rebecca Thornhill as Sukie, and Poopy Tierney as Jane we're all marvelous in their roles, with great comic timing and killer voices. Rachel Izen and James Graeme as Felicia and Clyde, providing great humour. All the ensemble were excellent, but special mentions must go out to Victoria Hay as "A Girl" (equivelent to "Little Girl" in the West End) and Oliver Walker as Fidel who often stole the scenes he was in.
Marti Pellow did an adequete job in his role, it's just a shame he has terrible diction, and it was often a help to be at the captioned performance.
All the creative's work shone through on stage, and made it the wonderful night it is. I highly reccomend to go see this production to everyone, though if you are an easily offended type, there is lots of comedy in a sexual nature, and a couple of swear words. But do go see a wonderful night at the theatre.
EDIT: The following are spoilers!
The flying is handeled excellently, and I didn't see the wires until they started flying, and they're onstage for quite a long time. regarding Felecia's mouth, I was a liitle dissapointed, in the first act a ball came out (feathers did too, but you could clearly see them coming on from the wings. The second act had a nickel ( that you can't see) and another small object (that you can't see). Darryll's "destruction" is done very simply, but well.
I totally agree. I've just returned from the theatre. I went on my own, so I was able to take it all in and think about it all. I had never seen the show (but I know the CD back to front), so I was happy to go in knowing some of the songs, and not knowing some of the newer ones. I agree with the diction problem, but otherwise Marti was excellent - and provided a true comic and, at times, scary performance. The band were good too - with a much scaled down version of Bill's original orchestral score - but still sounding grand at certain points (the lovely ending number).
I do feel some bits were rushed and cut out pointlessly (SPOILER) Clyde's suicide and the girls' final wish at the end, for example.
The creativity of the show really shun through during this production - and it was a great night out.
Sondheimfan... slided is not a word! Slid, however, is! ;)