Everyone knows the classic theater sayings: “Break a leg,” for luck (since saying “good luck” backstage is jinxed), or calling someone a “scene stealer” when they light up the stage. Then there’s “The show must go on.” Every theater lover learns that one by heart.
At Lemon Bay Playhouse, in the heart of Englewood, that motto truly came to life.
Susana Falcon, director of the show and Executive-Artistic Director of Lemon Bay Playhouse, explained, “Five days before opening (we were set for October 9), our leading lady, Aleah Colon-Alfonso, had to withdraw for an extended hospital stay. She’d been rehearsing the role of Gillian for weeks. So, I moved Megan Hendricks, one of our seasoned actors who had been preparing for the role of Nicky, into the lead. Then I reached out to Jill Houghton—she’d just returned from vacation and agreed on short notice to play Nicky.”
This is the kind of challenge that defines theater magic. People step up, and everything shifts, sometimes overnight.
“Even after I pushed opening to October 16, the new cast only had five days together,” Falcon continued. “There was so much blocking to learn—in five days, no way anyone could go completely off book. The other three actors went all in for extra rehearsals. By the new preview on Thursday, October 15, somehow, it all clicked. I’m proud of everyone for living the adage, ‘The show must go on!’”
And they delivered. John Van Druten’s supernatural romantic comedy, “Bell, Book and Candle,” is a pure delight.
The original Broadway production (1950-51) won huge critical praise for its zippy dialogue, tight story, and whimsical mix of romance and mild magic. That show inspired “Bewitched” and set the tone for lots of mid-century rom coms with a supernatural twist.
“Bell, Book, and Candle” is a perfect theatrical experience for this time of year when we all crave a little magic in the air. Gillian Holroyd (Megan Hendrick) is a gorgeous witch who falls hard for her neighbor, Shep Henderson (Joseph Giglia), a debonair publisher already engaged to someone else. When normal flirting fails, Gillian relies on witchcraft. Along with her black cat, Pyewacket, she casts a spell on Shep, and Act I ends with the two as glued together as wallpaper and paste.
But witches aren’t supposed to fall in love. If they do, they lose their powers. Still, Gillian can’t resist. Her oddball family keeps things lively: sister Nicky (Jill Houghton) and Aunt Queenie (Linda Ramzell) prove that magic without brains is just chaos.
Randy Huft plays Sidney Redlitch, a clueless author on the hunt for witches who drinks up every story, and literally every drink Gillian offers him. The antics are pure ‘50s.
Eventually, Aunt Queenie spills it all, witches, spells, and secrets. Shep is stunned but believes. Tears roll down Gillian’s cheeks for the first time, and, poof, her powers vanish. The ending shouldn’t come as a surprise: Shep turns up with a flimsy excuse to return a key, and Gillian, now fully human, makes it work, reviewing movies for a living (but not comedies, she insists).
If you’ve watched “Bewitched” with Elizabeth Montgomery and Dick York, you’ll see the family resemblance. There’s something joyful about tracing the sitcom’s roots, and the play still has a playful, subversive bite.
Lemon Bay Playhouse and Susana Falcon deserve nothing but applause for reviving this sparkling gem.
Falcon’s direction keeps the action brisk, light, and thoroughly rooted in that 1950s New York apartment vibe—think Murray Hill, Lucy and Ricky’s old neighborhood. Pam Hayes’s set is right on the mark. Carolyn Robinette’s costumes dazzle (especially Aunt Queenie’s wild velvets), and the whole ensemble shines.
Megan Hendrick captures Gillian’s inner tug-of-war between power and love. Joseph Giglia is all brisk indignation and bashful sweetness as Shep. Jill Houghton gives Nicky great quirk and spark, Randy Huft nails the self-impressed author, and Linda Ramzell steals scene after scene as Aunt Queenie: her goofy guilelessness never gets old.
The whole evening is simply enchanting. One might even say, “bewitching.”
Want to make it extra special? Lemon Bay Playhouse has teamed up with Chophouse285 for a real dinner theater experience. Whether it’s a meal before curtain or a celebration after the last bow. Reserve at LemonBayPlayhouse.com, show your ticket at Chophouse285 for the special menu, and call 941-777-CHOP (2467) to book. Be sure to say you’re with Lemon Bay Playhouse.
Great food, great theater, and one unforgettable night out on Dearborn Street.
Lemon Bay Playhouse “Bell, Book, and Candle”
By John Van Druten
Playing through November 1, 2026.
Click here for more information.
