The Witches

This was a joy! Drama, comedy, impact, history, revelation, laughter, tears, acknowledgement, fear, sadness, surprise... I can continue but I really want to highlight that the talent is not only there but its magnificent. The five of them play several characters and you see them come alive from within. I loved this play.

Didn't really expect to be crying in the middle of the day, but the powerful performances of the actors really moved me. Discussing women's issues that are tales as old as time, it still very much resonate today. It's a show I would recommend for everyone to see, and a show I myself would love to watch again.

Very solid show. There were some anachronisms that stood out as a bit weird and they lost me at the end after Edith's story because it got really repetitive, so I think maybe 10-15min could've been cut from this ~80min show.

There were a couple of lines that stood out as particularly interesting or beautiful in their subtlety, but I found that Edith's speech near the end was quite didactic which felt jarring compared to the rest of the dialogue. I don't like when scripts spoonfeed the audience, especially at the end of the play. Have faith in us to understand what you've been working towards for the entire show!

That being said, great performances all around, especially from Edith. Transitions were quick and artful which I really appreciated (no blackouts!!!). Each character was distinct and had logical motivations for their behaviour. The plot was of course predictable, but that's fine if it's executed well, and I think this was. I would definitely watch something from this group again, including this show for a second time if it got tightened up a bit.

A gripping and emotional tale that really keeps you engaged the whole time. The set and costumes were brilliantly done and really help immerse you in the storytelling. It tells a really important message while being humorous at the same time which gives way to a true and deeply human experience. I can’t recommend this play enough!

Everyone involved with this overwhelmingly impactful play did a phenomenal job. The writing was beautiful and approached delicate topics in such a respectful way. The actors raw emotion drew the audience in to the point where one felt as though they were going through everything with them. This is definitely a must-see show.

The Witches - Defiance in the Face of Death By Augustus Williams

Witches are often portrayed as old hags with crooked noses and pointy hats, but this beautifully written show by Nicole Pontikes and Sarah Jackson reminds us of the upsetting truth behind the origins of witches. The Witches is the story of five women who share little in common save their circumstance - they are about to be executed together for the crime of witchcraft. All five actors shared a beautiful sense of ensemble that strengthened everyone's performance as well as the show as a whole. Each character was defined as an individual, and they all contained so much personality that shone beyond just the story of how they got arrested. The dialogue was well written and performed, and made the characters feel all the more real and relatable. The design of the set was subtle but effective, just five wooden boxes and a blanket of straw on the ground, which effectively communicated the literal surroundings of the characters while also providing a perfect device to be reconfigured as each “witch” told their stories. I also personally deeply loved the costuming, which was more period inspired than period accurate. The character designs felt like the outfits you might see at a renaissance fair, with various contemporary elements pulled together to create a more timely look. This juxtaposition of fashion felt to me like a reminder that although this story happened many, many years ago, the abuse and mistreatment that these women faced is still very much a problem today.

This is a phenomenal show. The story is crafted well and the use of the space & minimal props/set is fantastic. I started crying halfway through and didn't stop. My only critique is that the beginning is very slow. The first 5-10 minutes could easily be taken down to half that time. Its a little uncomfortable and the audience was kind of looking around as if we were all thinking "Has someone dropped a line? Why is there so much silence? And why are we just watching the back of this one actor wander around stage?". Trust your writing and trust your acting. Start the show with the sisters being thrown into the cell. Keep the pace and don't let up. You dont need to ease us into it, I promise!

A heartbreaking story of 5 women who have their lives ripped away from them. The performances were so powerful that it left me speechless.

I laughed, I cried, I had a life-changing realization. That is the only way to describe this wonderful play. It was an emotional roller coaster as I watched, sipping on my lemonade in the audience. That is a true sign of great performing arts! It was an experience!

This dramatic period piece about a group of women bonding in a cell before they are executed for being witches was tragic and beautifully executed. The storytelling of the different circumstances of the women was masterfully interwoven. Take a deep breath with these actors and feel connected to the sisterhood.

The Witches is a beautiful and heartbreaking story that everyone should take the time to see. The stories told are incredibly important and well written, and the direction was phenomenal. I could watch this a billion times and feel just as strongly each and every time. Please go see this!!!