University of Virginia Library

Novelty Gone

Yet the novelty of seeing
modern-day witches is gone, the
parallels between this play and
"Bewitched" too omnipresent. We
see the similarity between the aunt
of the witch who is trying to win
the affections of the mortal
publisher who lives upstairs and
Samantha's "Aunt Clara." It is a
scene-stealing character — and as
played by an ostentatiously
costumed Jane Van Boskirk with
drooping jowls which make her
look like a confused basset hound
and a mouth which keeps moving
even if nothing comes out, it is
especially winning — but the
similarity is too pronounced for
comfort.

None of this, of course, is Van
Druten's fault. He has been dealt a
low blow by the passage of time
and his imitators. About all we can
blame him for are some romantic
cliches which must have sounded
just as corny when the play was
first produced in 1950 as they do
today. It is to the actors' credit, as
well as his, that these can be
dismissed in light of the pleasures,
however simple, the play has to
offer.