ONLINE: Bell, Book and Candle

media release: The Play's the Thing is the Peninsula Players' winter play reading series. The audio play will stream for one night only through the theater's ticketing system. Admission to the virtual production is limited to 300 households. A virtual pass is available through the theater's ticketing system.  Listening is free; donations are welcome.

Cast members of Peninsula Players Theatre's audio play reading of John Van Druten's whimsical comedy "Bell, Book and Candle" on March 1 include Allison Selby Cook, Linda Fortunato, Mike Jimerson, Penny Slusher, Greg Vinkler and Ric Walker. "Bell, Book and Candle" is under the direction of Kevin Christopher Fox.

 "Bell, Book and Candle" inspired the popular 1960s television shows "Bewitched" and "I Dream of Jeannie." In Van Druten's romantic comedy, love is an unfamiliar and even forbidden emotion for a witch; falling in love with a mortal means losing your powers.

Gillian is a free-spirited 20-something (in appearance in human years) who is restless in life and unlucky in love. She also happens to be from a family of witches and warlocks. When Gillian learns an old rival is engaged to her upstairs neighbor, an attractive publisher named Shepherd "Shep" Henderson, Gillian puts a spell on him to stop the wedding. Shep immediately becomes enamored with Gillian, and they then spend nearly every waking moment together. Amid the hocus pocus, she finds herself falling for him. Gillian turns to her eccentric yet understanding Aunt Queenie and her brother, Nicky, for advice when Shep proposes. Will Gillian keep her powers, or will love cast its own spell?    

Van Druten was an English playwright and director who began his career in London and later became a United States citizen. He studied law at London University and taught law at the University College of Wales in Aberystwyth. Writing and literature were a secondary career for Van Druten until age 24 when his first successful play, "Young Woodley," was produced. It has been adapted twice into films.

Van Druten once had five plays simultaneously on Broadway, all of which he directed. "The Voice of the Turtle," was adapted into a film featuring Ronald Reagan; "I Remember Mama," in which Marlon Brando made his Broadway debut and which was later filmed with Irene Dunn; "I Am a Camera," the basis for the musical "Cabaret;" and "Bell, Book and Candle." Rodgers and Hammerstein selected Van Druten to direct their musical, "The King and I," which earned Gertrude Lawrence and Yul Brynner Tony Awards for their performances.

"Bell, Book and Candle" was first produced on Broadway in 1950 with Rex Harrison as Shep and his wife, Lilli Palmer, as Gillian. It was adapted to film in 1958 with James Stewart and Kim Novak as the star-crossed lovers and also featured Jack Lemmon, Ernie Kovacs and Elsa Lanchester. In 1957, "Bell, Book and Candle" closed the Peninsula Players season, which at the time only ran to Labor Day weekend. Harvey Korman portrayed Shep and Judith Haviland, Maurice Ottinger and Helen Bragdon completed the family trio.   

The Play's the Thing 2021 winter series presents theatrical works that are not in the public domain. As part of the negotiations for the rights with playwrights and royalty houses, the productions must live on a password-protected platform with a designated starting and stopping time. All of the virtual presentations will be for one night only and will not be available for playback.

Tutorial videos on creating an account and accessing the virtual events are available on the theater's website on The Play's the Thing page on www.peninsulaplayers.com. The second offering is the magical comedy "Bell, Book and Candle" by John Van Druten on March 1 and the play selection for April 5 is yet to be announced. 

NEA Big Read: Door County is a program of the National Endowment for the Arts in partnership with Arts Midwest. The partnership between the Door County Library and Peninsula Players began 13 years ago when the two organizations collaborated to bring The Big Read to Door County. A full listing of events is available at www.doorcountyreads.org.

The Play's the Thing is funded in part by a grant from the Wisconsin Arts Board with funds from the State of Wisconsin and the National Endowment of the Arts, as well as generous grants from Door County Medical Center, Friends of Door County Libraries, The Shubert Foundation and operating funds of Peninsula Players Theatre.

Peninsula Players is America's Oldest Professional Resident Summer Theatre. The Play's the Thing theater's continued winter outreach programming, dedicated to presenting professional play readings for the public. The Play's the Thing presents fully-cast play readings for free to Door County audiences and will be offered virtually in 2021. Learn more about Peninsula Players and its rich history at www.peninsulaplayers.com or call the Box Office weekdays at (920) 868-3287.