Witches come to Creswick

A GOOD cackle is pretty much assured for those who get along to catch The Witches of Creswick.

The Ballarat Company is presenting this satirical adaptation of John Updike’s classic black comedy, The Witches of Eastwick, as a radio play reading.

Melbourne Theatre Company playwright Robert Reid has set the script in Creswick and takes aim at the foibles and politics of small-town life.

“The original book and movie is a parody and satire of relationships between men and women but what I was interested in was the kind of comedy in it,” said Dr Reid.

“There is a bit of politics between men and women in it, but it also takes a look at some of the politics you can get in small country towns, so there’s an anti-woke kind of character who’s a bit creepy and all kind of little hypocrisies.

“There’s a lot of basic human cruelty that takes politics as a mask.”

The plot follows what unfolds as three old friends have their wishes granted, a mysterious and flamboyant stranger arrives in town and all hell breaks loose.

It has a cast of eight including Dr Reid who is narrator, with Zoe James, Sam White, Melissa Lawrence playing the three witches.

“It’s a terrific cast,” said Dr Reid who formed The Ballarat Company earlier this year to present Between Us, Ballarat during the Heritage Festival.

“There’s some magic in it and it works well with just the dialogue and audio.

“It would be great if people come away feeling like the three women at the centre are the heroes of it.”

There are two 7.30pm evening shows, tomorrow evening (Saturday 6 December) at BPAC in Ballarat, and one on Thursday 11 December at the Creswick Theatre Company’s Courthouse Theatre in Creswick.