Sunday 2 June, Mission Theatre
Speaking of Witch is a brand new play by Jack Lambert, receiving its premiere performance this week in a confident and playful production by Bath's very own Bladud Productions.
It bills itself as "a brand new comedy for 1624", though in truth there is much drama interwoven with the laughs, as befits the subject matter.
Anyone familiar with the Stuart period in English history - or for that matter with the film Witchfinder General, with Vincent Price in lip-smacking mode - will be aware of the witch hunt frenzy of the time, and of the indomitable Matthew Hopkins who led the charge to execute as many suspected witches (innocent or not) as possible to satisfy the paranoia and bloodlust of the populace. But what of the people who worked under Hopkins, and how did they deal with balancing their work with their morality?
This play examines that through the hapless character of largely-unemployed junior witchfinder Thomas Braddock (a thoughtful and instinctive performance from Jeremy Kolker) who is charged by Hopkins of finding the country's last remaining witch to execute as a nice birthday treat for King Charles, or he will face a similar fate. Helping him slightly are his workers - the resourceful Catherine (an endlessly frustrated Heather Mosley) and a significantly less resourceful Isaac (a scene-stealing be-stubbled Jessica Hamer). And when is-she-or-isn't-she-a-witch Alice (an enigmatic and finally moving Spencer Ball) visits the house, Thomas may have found the answer to his prayers.
As for Hopkins himself, Max Baldock gives us an entertainingly flashy showman with an impressive vocal range, who slowly reveals the real motivation behind the man. He is supported by Aaron Hooper as fellow witchfinder John Stearne, whose final scene is a hilariously awkward affair.
Playwright Jack Lambert also directs, and highlights much of the witty dialogue to great comic effect, whilst keeping the dramatic scenes tense. But a great more focus is needed on pace; the first performance lasted over three hours, which is feels far too long for a comedy; lines need to bounce off each other for best comedic effect, but here we have a great many pauses weighing down the whole piece. Thankfully we have the men from the Guild, Brewster and Shaw (the excellently-bearded Phoebe Harris and Hannah Thompson), who work seamlessly together and bring great pace, zest and humour; it is a joy whenever they re-enter the action as you know the pace will be bang-on and the energy high.
This is a highly entertaining romp through one of the darkest passages of British history, with nods to everything from The Crucible to Upstart Crow. This premiere run will hopefully be just the beginning, and if initial issues (the afore-mentioned pacing, and also sightlines which, in a traverse production such as this, need to be more thought-through) are ironed out, it could lead to bigger and better things. And that would keep the men from the Guild very happy.
Playing at the Mission Theatre, Bath until 3 June.
Steve Huggins
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