Claire Coffey is bewitching in Stray Dog’s “Bell, Book & Candle”

One of the treats of the St. Louis professional theater scene is getting to see enjoyable works that are aren’t often produced. Stray Dog Theatre opens “Bell, Book, & Candle” for a 3-week run to close out their 2024 season. “Bell, Book & Candle,” is a 1950’s play that was one of the inspirations for the television series “Bewitched”

John Van Druten’s script was adapted into a 1958 film starring Jimmy Stewart, Kim Novak, and Jack Lemmon. It tells the story of a witch who is smitten with a neighbor that lives upstairs in her New York City apartment building. “Bell, Book & Candle” is a charming love story that would make an excellent choice for some light and romantic holiday entertainment this December.

While everything about this play feels vintage, the 74-year-old script holds up particularly well in Stray Dog Theatre’s enchanting production. Director Gary F. Bell and his technical team lean into the romanticized 1950’s with their every choice. His collaboration with costume designer Colleen Michelson is especially effective and creates an elegant vintage fashion show, especially with their choices for actor Claire Coffey.

Coffey makes a stunning Gillian Holroyd, the building landlord who is also a witch. Gillian has taken notice of her upstairs tenet, the boyishly handsome Sheperd Henderson (Joel Wilper.) Coffey is delightful and winsome as the witch with a crush. She perfectly captures Gillian’s befuddlement as she longs for a mortal relationship with the dashing Sheperd.  

Coffey looks ravishing in her 1950’s vintage dresses and gowns. Her slight build and hourglass shape accentuated the period’s sheath dresses with pinched waist and pencil skirts. Coffey also makes working with a live animal look easy. She effortlessly handles a black cat that is a significant part of the story.

Wilper is terrific as the fresh-faced businessman Sheperd who becomes the object of Gillian’s obsession. His bemused confusion and spell-induced punch-drunk affection augments his characterization. Wilper’s droll bewilderment adds to his allure as a debonair leading man stepping into the world of witches, warlocks, and witchcraft.

Liz Mischel is amusing as Gillian’s ditzy Aunt Queenie, the careless witch recklessly casting spells. Mischel flits about in bright colored, bold patterned, loosely fitting, flowy garments with the structure of a witch's robe. The eye-catching colored patterns mirror Mischel’s kooky portrayal of the flighty Queenie. Her eccentric performance is reminiscent of Agnes Moorehead’s Emmy nominated work as Endora in the series “Bewitched.”

The cast of five includes Victor Mendez as Gillian’s warlock brother Nicky, and Gary Wells as Sidney Redlitch, the inebriated writer with a fascination for witchcraft. Mendez and Wells outlandish portrayals snare the oddities of their offbeat characters.

Stray Dog Theatre’s “Bell, Book, and Candle” is sweet and cute holiday entertainment. Gary Bell’s leadership and his fantastic casting choices make an old story seem fresh and contemporary. The production is propelled by the appealing Claire Coffey’s entrancing and spellbinding portrayal. The play is worth the price of a ticket just to ogle Colleen Michelson’s fabulous vintage fashions. Her nostalgic costumes are simply striking.

“Bell, Book & Candle” continues its run in The Tower Grove Abbey through December 21, 2024. More information is available at straydogtheatre.com.