By Alayna Een
Front Row Reviewers has a question for you: What could be better than Christmas in July? Halloween in June! And Headphone Theater’s The Moon Witch at the Angelus Theater in Spanish Fork, Utah, is the spooky summer musical you never knew you needed. For its fifth original production, Headphone Theater is returning to its roots with this ambitious prequel to The Barrymore Hauntings, the creative company’s first show. Fans of Barrymore (now available on YouTube) will enjoy the clever Easter eggs and recognize the surnames of some of their favorite characters, but even newcomers will enjoy the magic, mystery, and romance in this fully staged show.
Set in the heyday of knights and lords, The Moon Witch begins with Lord Barrymore and his trusted guard, Sir Blaker, investigating a strangely brutal string of murders in Deepwood. When they suspect that this murder most foul was committed by unholy hands, Barrymore and Blaker set out to find a priest who can help them solve the case. They find their man in the form of Father Knightly, a loveable, psalm-spouting rogue. But when the men’s playful fight with a group of witches and its formidable leader, Hildegard, is interrupted by dangerous shadow creatures, Hildegard makes a quick decision to save the men’s lives by dragging them further into Deepwood—much to the displeasure of Elondria, the coven’s ruler and Hildegard’s older sister. With their fates now intertwined, the witches and men must work together to find the person controlling the shadow creatures before all of Deepwood succumbs to the darkness.
Jenna Snow is the human-loving huntress, Hildegard. Her kind heart and strong determination to do what’s right make her the moral center of the play, but Snow bears this weight with ease. Her enemies-to-lovers relationship with Peter Knightly (Nate Worlton) works well. Worlton’s witty Bible-verse comebacks and flirtations are a highlight of the show, and he slides them in with great comedic timing. Their final duet, “Taking a Leap,” is a satisfying keystone to their story arc.
Tiffany Garner Davis, a queen of the Angelus stage, is the regal Elondria. She takes command of her tragic character arc and masters her musical numbers, especially her “Kind Heart” duet with Snow (a credit to Alyssa Garn’s music direction). The sisterly affection, which is a huge motivator for the plot, is easily conveyed by these two talented actors. Chelle Papaycik, another icon of the Angelus Theater, has performed many strange and unsavory characters with satisfying intensity, and her portrayal of the White Elder is a worthy addition to her dark repertoire.
The group of witches (Alexa Quigley, Dalyn Diaz, Amanda Gould, Elizabeth Adams, Amanda Featherstone, and Valorie Gubler) is bursting with life, character, and comedy, with Gould’s witty and reluctant Amayah as a standout. Their characters’ devotion to each other heightens the emotional level of the show. Each witch is crowned with elaborate braids and marked with the distinctive coven symbol (designed by the talented Amanda Ruth Wilson), which really unifies the group and highlights the advent of the Moon Witch.
Leading the world of men, Spencer Ferguson embodies the troubled Lord Barrymore. His friendship with the stalwart Sir Blaker (Brady Genessy) and the delightfully flippant Sir Garth/Joseph Merchant (Garr Van Orden) is endearing. The dedicated guard Sir Jacob/Michael (Josh Yuen), punch-happy Robert (Kylar Hansen), and henchman Hugh (Hyrum White) round out the crew. And while the weapons of choice vary, Zachary Ballard’s fight choreography keeps the action fresh.
The dark creatures (living shadows) greatly enhance the spook factor of the musical, as they methodically claw at the backdrops in the moments before they appear on the stage and ominously seize control of other characters. Rachelle Caroll’s spectral choreography and MaiLee Prows’s phenomenal costuming bring the shadows to life, and Val Seiler’s lighting design complements the dramatic scenes.
Playwright Levi Taylor (also Writer/Composer/Director/Set Designer) packs the story with intrigue that will keep the audience on the edge of their seats but wisely sprinkles in enough humor and singing to lighten the scenes. One of the plot twists includes the strangest saving grace I’ve ever seen, which is saying something. This dark musical fantasy is best suited for teens and adults, as younger audiences may find the living shadows and stage violence disturbing. There are brief sequences of flashing lights.
The unique story, memorable characters, and spooky set make Headphone Theater’s The Moon Witch the spectacle that it is—both shining with potential and shrouded in strangeness. The cast and crew’s dedication to the show and the story is clear in every detail of the production. So step into Deepwood with The Moon Witch for a night of magic, music, and mystery. And who knows? Its dark spell might charm you too.
A review by Front Row Reviewers
Headphone Theater presents The Moon Witch
Written and Produced by Levi Taylor
The Angelus Theatre, 165 N Main St, Spanish Fork, UT, 84660
Tickets: $15
May 29 to June 5, 2022 (Monday, Friday, Saturday) 7:30 PM
Headphone Theater website
Headphone Theater YouTube Channel
The Moon Witch Digital Program
The Moon Witch Event Facebook Page
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