(Left to right: Connor French, Annie Craven, Edward Schoaps, and Esack Francis Grueskin play in Witch, kicking off the 2022-23 season at Oregon Contemporary Theatre.)
By Randi Bjornstad
Oregon Contemporary Theatre opens the 2022-23 season — its 30th — on Sept. 16 with a production of Witch, describing the plot as “a devilish comedy” by playwright Jen Silverman, in which “mischief lurks in the sleepy village of Edmonton when a slick, young devil arrives in search of a few fresh deals.”
The plot quickly thickens as the demon, no surprise here, manages to ferret out the secrets — and deepest desires — of the townfolk and uses that knowledge to make nefarious deals that in some cases reveal their inner selves to be far different from what their neighbors might have expected.
The play is based on one written in 1621 in Jacobean England, titled The Witch of Edmonton, but it is brought so current in terms of issues that it could be right now. Craig Willis, OCT’s producing artistic director, calls it a “hilarious, feminist take on bargaining with the Devil,” not to mention a warning to be careful what you wish for.
Tara Wibrew directs the show, with a cast of OCT veterans that include Maya Thomas, Connor French, and David Arnold. Witch also introduces some newcomers to the OCT stage, in Annie Craven, Esack Grueskin, and Ed Schoaps.
The production crew features scenic designer Amy Dunn, with costumes by DeMara Cabrera, lighting design by Emily K Bolivar, and props design by Cameron Jackson. Bill Hulings is fight director. Composer Delos Leo Erickson and production stage manager Riley Allen round out the credits.
Witch at Oregon Contemporary Theatre
When: Preview shows at 7:30 p.m. Sept. 14-15; opening night at 7:30 p.m. Sept. 16 ($40 includes post-performance reception); tickets $20-$34-$44 for shows at 7:30 p.m. Sept. 17, 22-24, 29-30 and Oct. 1 and for Sunday matinees at 2 p.m. on Sept. 25 and Oct. 2; discounts available for students with current student ID
Where: Oregon Contemporary Theatre 194 West Broadway, Eugene
Tickets: Suggested price of $15 for pay-what-you-can preview shows; $40 opening night includes post-performance reception; other shows $20-$34-$44; discounts available for students with current student ID, available online at octheatre.org or at the box office, 541-465-1506
The rest of the season:
- Oct. 21-Nov. 6, 2022 — Hedwig and the Angry Itch
- Dec. 2-Dec. 18, 2022 — The Wickhams, Christmas at Pemberley
- Jan. 20-Feb. 5, 2023 — Man and Moon
- March 3-March 19, 2023 — Something Clean
- May 19-June 4, 2023 — Colonialism is Terrible, but Pho is Delicious
