My Witch: The Margaret Hamilton Stories is everything great theater can be and then even more. Thrilling, entertaining and interesting. Jean Tafler is a real pro and outstanding as Margaret Hamilton. Once again
Bay Street's Artistic Director,
Scott Schwartz has found a brilliant new play to "World Premiere" on
Bay Street Theater's stage in Sag Harbor.
Jean Tafler portrays Margaret Hamilton, whose Wicked Witch of the West left an indelible mark on America. If there is one movie we all share it's
The Wizard of Oz and with that as a backdrop, the audience at the Bay Street Theater was under Jean Tafler's spell from the show's opening, which was the very first live performance of this new play by John Ahlin.
Directed by
Will Pomerantz, Jean Tafler commands the stage and cagily moves about with a kinetic energy perhaps channeling the electricity from the lightning effects so brilliantly coordinated by the Production Designer, Brian Staton and the Scenic & Lighting Designer, Mike Billings along with Sound Designer, Connor Brent. Director Will Pomerantz has a feathered touch defining his productions. It is always worth attending when he is lending his skills directing a production.
What makes this show most appreciative is the coziness Jean Tafler brings to the life of Margaret Hamilton. The play is set in a cottage on a small island in Maine. Jean Tafler, through
the words of playwright John Ahlin, amps up the audience with antidotes of Margaret Hamilton's life along with insightful tidbits about a time long ago when big movie studios ran Hollywood and Hollywood stars' lives. I enjoyed the inside gossip about long ago Hollywood and the production of
The Wizard of Oz movie.
There is both a homespun brilliance to the writing and a genuine affectionate performance that merge to bring the audience into the heart of this one woman play. It's truly a conversational play with a woman perhaps defined by her twelve minutes of total screen time in
The Wizard of Oz that has terrified almost every person who has ever viewed that epic movie. Humanizing Margaret Hamilton to be a former Cleveland kindergarten teacher that she once was, and showing off her seasoned acting prowess is perhaps the gem within the production.
My Witch: The Margaret Hamilton Stories is a must see if you love the movie
The Wizard of Oz, but it's also a must see because Jean Tafler gives a brilliant, strong
Tony Award worthy caliber performance seemingly so effortlessly displaying her talent, skills and gift as an actor.
My Witch: The Margaret Hamilton Stories will run from Wednesday, July 17 through Sunday, July 21. Tickets start at $40.
Bay Street is located at 1 Bay Street in Sag Harbor. For more information, call 631-725-9500 or visit www.baystreet.org.
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Guest (Carol McCracken/a/k/a munjoyhillnews.com) from Portland, Maine says::
Was interested that you picked up the Margaret Hamilton play and that it got such good reviews. I saw an original production of it here in Portland and have wondered what happened to it - now I know! I spent several weeks with her at the cottage in Maine because she did not want to be alone there and I was glad to extend the Maine summer season with her. I saw with her son and daughter-in-law at the theater here in Portland that preview night. I loved it then and I'm glad you did as well.!
Feb 25, 2020 12:22 pm