Charming Comedy for a Spell

John Van Druten’s “Bell, Book and Candle,” at Westminster Community Theatre, is a bit of a curio, a good play this is dated only in that that its subject matter--witchcraft--has gone through some image problems since the play was written, in 1950. Witchcraft was seen as something cute then, not unlike its portrayal on the 1960s television series “Bewitched.”

If you look at Van Druten’s comedy in those terms, with his adorable witches, the play still works, gets its laughs and provides some juicy comic turns for inventive actors.

The plot is simplicity itself. Publisher Shepherd Henderson (Eldon Callaway) rents an apartment from Gillian Holroyd (Elizabeth Hoffman), unaware that Holroyd, her Aunt Queenie (Joan Neubauer) and cousin Nicky (Tawd Jeremy Beckman) are witches. In fact, Henderson soon realizes, the Manhattan of 1950 is simply crawling with witches. But Henderson doesn’t believe in witches. Gillian has to give up her powers to prove their existence to him.

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Director Karla Abrams sees the fun and the charm in all this and keeps a loose rein on her actors, allowing them to be inventive. But the tempo is sluggish. The actors often don’t pick up their cues as brightly as they could, and they tend to drag even in the middle of their lines. The effect is noticeable.

Two of the company, Neubauer as the dingbat aunt and Beckman as the bumptious but charming Nicky, try their best to keep the energy up, but Hoffman and Callaway make little more effort than walking through their roles. As Sidney Redlitch, a writer who specializes in--guess what?--witchcraft, James Manley Green is very good, but his energy and projection overpower everyone else when he’s onstage.

* “Bell, Book and Candle,” Westminster Community Theatre, 7272 Maple St. Friday-Saturday, 8 p.m. Ends Feb. 1. $11. (714) 527-5546. Running time: 2 hours, 20 minutes.

Elizabeth Hoffman: Gillian Holroyd

Eldon Callaway: Shepherd Henderson

Joan Neubauer: Aunt Queenie

Tawd Jeremy Beckman: Nicky Holroyd

James Manley Green: Sidney Redlitch

A Westminster Community Theatre production of John Van Druten’s comedy. Produced by Mark D. Lyen. Directed/scenic design by Karla Abrams. Assistant director/technical direction/lighting design: Aaron Abrams. Stage manager: Channing Boyer.