THE WITCHES OF EASTWICK A Musical Comedy in 2 acts. Book and lyrics by John Dempsey; music by Dana P. Rowe; base on the novel by Joh Updike and the Warner Brothers motion picture. Presented at Theatre Royal, Drury Lane, London - 18 July, 2000. Closed 22 February, 2001 Transferred to Prince of Wales Theatre from March 23, 2001. SYNOPSIS Act I In the small New England town of Eastwick, Rhode Island, live three unhappy divorcees (our not-so-wicked witches) - Alexandra Spofford, Jane Smart and Sukie Rougemont - much to the chagrin of the town's self-appointed first citizen, Felicia Gabriel. Failed sculptress Alexandra is concerned with her teenaged son, Michael and his romance with Felicia's college-bound daughter, Jennifer, Uptight music teacher Jane is grappling with her divorce from her purportedly gay husband. And Sukie is troubled over her tedious affair with Clyde, Felicia's husband and editor of the paper where Sukie works. One stormy night, over a heady brew of brownies and weak martinis, they wish for their perfect man. In no time at all, the town's legendary Lenox House is bought and its grounds ecologically disfigured by a stranger from New York City - one Darryl Van Horne. Sweeping into town atop a wave of gossip, the charismatic newcomer makes a sardonic case for small-town living. One night, not long after Van Horne whisks Alexandra away to his ocean-side manse, romancing repulsing and chiding her for failing to see the beauty in herself. As Jane practises her 'cello the next evening, Darryl comes to call, violin in hand. Playing a duet with her, he unleashes the passion both in her music and her soul. Two down, one left. The following day, Van Horne intrudes upon Sukie's home, questioning her seeming inability to finish a sentence. He remedies the problem. If the three women are initially jealous when they discover that Darryl has been dividing his attentions between them, magic and sensuality soon win the day - and the night. Eastwick is awash with rumours of Van Horne and his veritable harem. Rallying her troops, Felicia sends Jennifer off to college early, getting her safely away from Alexandra's son, Michael, and the carnal insanity that has gripped their little town. On their way to the Lenox House, the three women reflect upon both their childhood dreams and their recent transformations. Darryl, watching them, marvels at his handiwork. Once arrived, they use a charmed cookie jar, cursing Felicia with a variety of objects - tennis balls, bracelets, feathers - which come flying out of her mouth. Enraptured and enamored, the three witches are sent sailing into the New England skies. ACT II Months have passed. And if Felicia and her cronies have only grown more single-minded in their pursuits, so has Alexandra. With the whole of the United States between them, Michael and Jennifer pledge their love for one another over the phone, doing their not-too-impressive best to name what it is they share. Darryl wanders into the middle of Michael's shift at Nemo's Diner where he conjures up a preternatural lesson in the ways of the fairer sex for the lovelorn boy and the men of Eastwick. The ladies and Darryl continue to plague Felicia, pouring drawing-pins, toenail clippings, spiders and cherry stones into the magic cookie jar … and out of Felicia's vile mouth. In her kitchen Felicia is stricken by the spell, even as she attempts to harangue her husband. Clyde ends it all with a well-times frying pan, only to be
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