Bell, Book, and Candle

We just got back from seeing Bell, Book, and Candle performed by the Cleveland Playhouse.  This is the play that inspired the television series Bewitched.  There is a community of witches living in New York City unbeknownst to their human neighbors.  When I was watching the play the main character, Gillian, describes witchcraft as taking shortcuts to desired outcomes.   I suppose you could call it life hacking.  People don't usually pay attention to the odd activities in the play because they dismiss it as a series of coincidences. 

Gillian basically decided to magic herself a little romance with her upstairs neighbor, Shep.  She casts a spell, and he falls madly in love with her.   When the spell is revealed, there is a lot of questioning about the nature of love.  Also, in the play's world, a witch loses her powers when in love, as well as gaining the ability to cry and blush.

I suppose I was expecting a more comedic play with lots of magic and trickery.   It was more of a philosophical play about the nature of love and the consequences of meddling with it.  I can definitely see how Bewitched could be imagined from this 1950's play.