The Witches of Eastwick

Hall for Cornwall

Lee Trewhela

I LOVE a good musical which means I must be a gay man in heterosexual's clothing.

In that guise I can perfectly understand the whooping of a Hall's worth of excitable ladies – Marti Pellow was magnificent as the leering, preening, salacious Darryl Van Horne.

But as a man safe in the knowledge of my sexuality and especially my musicals I wasn't looking forward to this stage version of the 1980s film version of the John Updike book.

I'd heard rumours that it was instantly forgettable – the songs certainly aren't golden greats; the morning after Marti gave us a damn good seeing to I couldn't remember a single tune.

However, that's where the negativity ends as this was a ball – fantastic performances, imaginative staging (which is essential in a smaller venue like the Hall) and among the best sound I've heard in the venue.

The relatively slight story (this is musical theatre, after all) set in a sleepy and uptight New England town tells of three bored women, variously lacking in confidence and sex, who fall for the charms of a mysterious newcomer, the self-proclaimed "horny little devil" Darryl Van Horne.

The devil in human form soon turns these women into newfound versions of themselves and, ultimately, his witches, wreaking havoc on the other townsfolk.

This means that Pellow is given free rein to rage, seduce and be generally malevolent in marvellously OTT fashion.

Unrecognisable, especially vocally, as the cute singer with Wet Wet Wet, here he cherrypicks (quite literally) from Jack Nicholson's screen version, Jim Carrey's lizard-like facial tics, Elvis and, one of his musical heroes, Bowie.

It's a wonderfully crude turn which had all the women in the house swooning. It's also deliciously dark – perhaps Pellow looked back at his own, well-documented dance with the devil for inspiration...

The nature of the role undoubtedly makes him a standout, but the other actors matched him.

Ria Jones, Rebecca Thornhill and Poppy Tierney were all great as the "witches" turning from frumps to sexpots with aplomb. Rachel Izen as Eastwick's disapproving matriarch Felicia Gabriel was stunning – all buttoned up prissiness and withering looks, with a belter of a voice.

It was Izen who was centre stage in by far the best number in the show, Dirty Laundry (this show's Sit Down, You're Rockin' The Boat) – a brilliantly directed set piece.

The humour may not appeal to all (it's bawdy to say the least) and if you're shocked by swearing stay away (though it's certainly no Jerry Springer: The Opera!).

But if you enjoy a good old romp with musical theatre performances at their best (or simply get off on the sight of a writhing, crotch-thrusting Marti Pellow) then make sure you see this show before it ends on Saturday.