PANTOCHINO GIVES CLEAR INSTRUCTIONS ON “HOW TO BE A GOOD WITCH”

 MARY MANNIX, SYDNEY MAHER AND SHELLEY MARSH POGGIO

Every good book store has a shelf of How To books on topics that range from how to grow garlic, how to fix your kitchen sink, how to master the art of bidding in bridge, how to knit an afghan, and so on for miles of instruction.  Pantochino Productions has another volume to add to your collection, one you probably never anticipated needing.  With Halloween just around the corner, what could be more appropriate to learn than “How To Be A Good Witch” and this creative acting company has all the pertinent data to make it clear, all packaged in one delightful  musical playing at the Milford Center for the Arts at the Train Station on Friday, Saturday and Sunday until October 29. The clock is ticking so get on your broomstick and sail there straight away.

Rae is a confused little witch on the cusp of turning thirteen and she doesn’t know which (witch) way to turn.  Should she be a good witch or a member of the other sisterhood and do bad things. Her older sister Emmaleen (Kristina Rizzardi) has chosen to go to the darker side and her parents (Justin Rugg and Hannah Duffy) seem to be leaning that way too.  An adorable Rae, Sydney Maher, knows good witches don’t do curses and only perform nice spells.  She is happy to have the good counsel of her Uncle Wink (Jimmy Johansmeyer) but she is still uncertain of her fate.

A chance meeting with Mrs.Gurney (Maria Berte), the librarian, provides her with a book and the opportunity to have the advice and concern of a pair of opposite opinions, Glimmer (Shelley Marsh Poggio) who radiates goodness and Triktoria (Mary Mannix) who enjoys the blacker arts.  With her parents now divided on how she should choose, Rae has the added responsibility of getting both the good and the bad witch back into the How To book, all before Halloween.  How will Rae select her guardian?  What will her new witch name be? Can the appearance of the Mighty Wizard Cadabradorf (George Spelvin) help her reach a decision?

All these burning questions will be happily answered on Friday at 7:30 p.m., Saturday at 2 p.m. and 5:30 p.m. and Sunday at 2 p.m. The Friday and Saturday shows will be cabaret style so bring goodies to share at your table or plan to buy them on site.  For tickets ($20 on line and $22 at the door),  go online to www.pantochino.com.  These shows are all home grown and original, with book and lyrics by Bert Bernardi, music by Justin Rugg and elaborate costuming by Jimmy Johansmeyer. Coming next are Tori Scott, the Bette Midler of the new millennium, on Saturday, November 4 at 8 p.m and a new musical for the holidays “School for Elves” December 1-17.

The cauldron is simmering with all manner of tasty brews as Pantochino Productions cooks up a precious professional pot of potent potables for your perky pleasure.