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It was for a cat.
And not just any cat, but a cool cat.
OLT volunteer Cynthia Gibbs of Olympia, who’s been a judge at cat shows on three continents, coordinated the auditions for the role of the witch’s familiar in the romantic comedy, which opens tonight.
“Cindy had a lot of criteria that she thought would be necessary for a stage cat — being fine in front of an audience, being fine being held, having a calm personality,” said Kendra Malm, directing “Bell.”
Only one cat showed up: Dexter, a black-and-white feline with “gorgeous yellow eyes,” Malm said. “He happened to be the perfect cat,” she added.
Dexter and his human, Nicole Galyean of Olympia, were new to the theater. “So we have a new actor — a furry actor,” Malm said.
Dexter has been rehearsing with the cast, Malm said, but he has little to do other than be carried across the stage by Gillian, the witch of the piece.
Gillian is played by McKenzie Clifford, who casts a love spell on her upstairs neighbor Shep (played by Bobby Brown) and then falls in love with him herself, leading to all sorts of complications.
“Needless to say, the course of true love — with or without supernatural assistance — does not run smoothly,” Leah D. Frank wrote in a New York Times review of a 1985 production in East Farmington, N.Y.
While John van Druten’s play did inspire the 1960s TV sitcom “Bewitched,” the plot of the play — and of the 1958 film with Jimmy Stewart and Kim Novak — is quite different than that of the iconic TV show.
“It’s set in urban New York rather than suburbia,” Malm said. “Gillian is an art gallery owner rather than a housewife, and the man she falls in love with is a publisher rather than an advertising executive — things like that.”
The OLT production of the play, which premiered on Broadway in 1950, has been moved to the present day, which required just a few simple script changes.
“It needed some updating of a few references, mostly to do with emails versus letters and CDs versus records,” Malm said. “There was a reference to a book on magic selling as well as the Kinsey report, and I updated that to selling as well as ‘The DaVinci Code.’
“I have put a little twist on the end that’s not in the script,” she added. “It’s not done with any words. It will update it a bit, I think.” ‘Bell, Book and Candle’
What: Olympia Little Theatre opens its season with “Bell, Book and Candle,” the romantic comedy that inspired TV’s “Bewitched.”
When: 7:55 p.m. today and Saturday, and Sept. 22-24, Sept. 29-Oct. 1 and Oct. 6-8; 1:55 p.m. Sunday and Oct. 2 and 9
Where: Olympia Little Theatre, 1925 Miller Ave. N.E., Olympia
Tickets: $10-$14
Season tickets: Choose five or more plays and receive a $2 discount per ticket.
More information: 360-786-9484, olympialittletheater.org
THE REST OF THE SEASON
“Welfarewell” by Cat Delaney (Oct. 28-Nov. 20): A retired Shakespearean actress realizes that there’s a place where she can be guaranteed food, shelter and companionship: jail.
“Holiday Memories” by Truman Capote (Dec. 2-18): The autobiographical play follows the young Capote and his elderly cousin Miss Sook as they bake fruitcake and cut down a Christmas tree.
“Almost, Maine” by John Cariani (Jan. 13-Feb. 5): This tale of romance and broken hearts is set in the mythical town of Almost, Maine, on a clear and moonless midwinter’s night.
“Much Ado About Nothing” by William Shakespeare (Feb. 24-March 18): The classic comedy is relocated to the swinging big-band era.
“Distracted” by Lisa Loomer (April 13-29): This dramatic comedy follows 9-year-old Jessie: He won’t sit still; he curses; he raps. No one is quite sure what to do with him.
“Perfect Wedding” by Robin Hawdon (May 25-June 17): A wedding is the setting for this classic farce complete with crisis, confusion and mistaken identities.
