Bewitching comedy at Buck Creek

By John Lyle Belden

If you had the power to acquire anything you desired, when you get it, is it truly yours? Now, change that to “any-one.”

Buck Creek Players puts a little spooky in Spring with their production of the classic comedy, “Bell Book and Candle,” by John Van Druten. If the story of genuine spellcasting witches living among us looks familiar, the 1950 play (and the 1958 film version) was part of the inspiration for the hit TV sitcom “Bewitched.”

On Christmas Eve in 1950s New York, Gillian Holroyd (Anna Spack), the more powerful and practical of her witchy clan, notices a tenant of her building, Shep Henderson (Josh Rooks), is quite handsome. Upon finding out from silly Aunt Queenie (Nancy Laudeman) that Shep will soon be engaged to a woman Gillian has hated since they were schoolmates, she decides powerful magic to ensnare him will be worth the risk. But first, Gillian’s equally carefree brother Nicky (Ben Jones) and Queenie are there to exchange gifts. His to them are copies of non-witch Sidney Redlitch’s latest book “Magic in Mexico,” so the witches and warlock can mock it. But knowing Shep, a publisher, wants to work with Redlitch (Jeremy Teipen), they use the photo on the book jacket to cast a summoning spell.

With a little help from feline familiar Pyewacket, the magic is set into motion, and love, or something like it, is in the air. Calling off his engagement, Shep seems contented in Gillian’s arms, and he’s poised to work with Redlitch on his book about witches in the Big Apple. However, as anyone familiar (pardon the pun) with witchlore in any medium (sorry, can’t help it) knows that when significant energy goes out, who knows how it will come back.

Suddenly, Shep is confused, overwhelmed, and proposing marriage. Also, it turns out Nicky is helping Redlitch in exchange for drawing illustrations, and that Nicky and Queenie have taken him around the NYC magickal community. For Gillian, who takes her spellwork seriously, and had only wanted Shep for a good time, this could spell – I mean, lead to – disaster! And on top of it all, she’s starting to develop strange new feelings; this could cost her far more than she ever anticipated.

Directed by Mel DeVito, the rom-com that helped bring us Samantha, Sabrina, and arguably the “Charmed” sisters, is truly a bewitching delight.

Rooks, stepping into the shoes of the likes of Rex Harrison and Jimmy Stewart, gives us another example of the likable everyman character he is gaining mastery of. His constantly conflicted soul is plain for all to see, feeling put-upon by outside forces while never entirely yielding his inner strength. Spack is commanding without being bossy, clearly the woman in charge, even when things start to go sideways. Queenie, who only recently embraced her powers, is played by Laudeman as both the “cool aunt” and a little girl enjoying her new toys – which makes her both fun and, in Gillian’s mind, in need of restraint. Jones (who admits to using Paul Lynde as a touchstone) presents Nicky as practically giddy at any chance to wield some powers. A practiced warlock, he only lets Gillian limit him to a degree. Teipen, our other “mortal” in the cast, goes from drunkenly taking it all as a gag (he was summoned from a Christmas party) to soberly seeing he’s in over his depth in genuine occult activity.

Pyewacket is a clever rather life-like animatronic, moving and mewing precisely on cue. Without seeing a special credit for the kitty, I’ll note that props are by DeVito and Suzi Brown. Costumes, an eclectic mix of conservative, wild, and glamorous, as needed, are by Tiffany Wilson. Rich Laudeman is stage manager.

Fun and enchanting, see “Bell, Book and Candle” this Friday through Sunday, April 5-7 at Buck Creek Playhouse, 11150 Southeast Ave. (Acton Road Exit off I-74), Indianapolis, or the Witches might not bring back the Sun after they blot it out on the 8th. Tickets at buckcreekplayers.com.

‘Trailer Park Musical’ a hit at BCP

By John Lyle Belden

It’s been some years since Indianapolis theatre-goers got to look in on Armadillo Acres, Florida’s most wacky mobile home community, but “The Great American Trailer Park Musical” has returned, presented by Buck Creek Players.

In this fun bit of redneck revelry, manager Betty (Claire Slaven) keeps the lights on, Lin (Georgeanna Teipen) puts on even more lights in a strategy to keep her death-row husband alive, and Pickles (Claire Gray) is fairly sure this time she’s actually pregnant. Meanwhile agoraphobic Jeannie (Amelia Tryon) is gathering the courage to leave her trailer for the first time in decades so she can join husband Norbert (Jeremy Teipen) on an Anniversary date to see the Ice Capades.

Storms blow into Florida all the time; our present force of nature is Pippi (Emily Gaddy), an exotic dancer hoping she escaped from unbalanced boyfriend Duke (Josh Rooks) – who should arrive by Act Two.

Directed by Ben Jones, the silliness is tempered with a bit of heartache – and a moment of gunplay – but it all works out like a comedy musical should. Tryon and Gaddy, especially, give fabulous performances. Gray manages the sort of genius that plays “box of hair” dumb while still charming. And Rooks isn’t usually the intimidating sort, but adds just a hint of psycho to pull off our marker-fume-addled bad boy.

Hats off (but not too long, for sunburn) to set designer Matt Gray for the on-stage trailers (including Jeannie and Norbert’s cutaway) and stage manager Suzi Brown.

With book by Betsy Kelso and songs by David Nehls, “The Great American Trailer Park Musical” has one more weekend left at 11150 Southeastern Ave. (Acton Road exit off I-74). As of this posting, Friday is sold out, but there are two performances Saturday, June 17, and a matinee Sunday, June 18. Go to buckcreekplayers.com for details.

And while you’re there, consider giving to the fundraising drive for improvements to the playhouse entry. Your donation “buys” a little pink flamingo with your name that gets added to the campaign display.