August 22, 2004 - 750526 - The Witches' Almanac

[Fizzlestix]

This week's Show of the Week is generously presented for us by scarlson33:

[color=orange:081a14c7f9]750526 - The Witches' Almanac[/color:081a14c7f9]
[color=gray:081a14c7f9]written by Ian Martin; stars Virginia Payne & Robert Dryden[/color:081a14c7f9]

Enjoy the show! ~ Fizz

[Texas]

I can't find the thread now where we were talking about Christianity. And witchcraft. And their respective treatments on the RMT, particularly the pre-1981 episodes.

But wow...I'd not heard this one, and at the end it leaves no doubt, again, what apparently some of (in this case, Ian Martin and possibly E.G.) the RMT folks thought about witchcraft.

This one had the earmarks of a program with an ending like "The real printer's devil" (which also featured Jada Rowland, as this one did) or "The summer people", but I always thought the heroine (or at least one could call her "the nice girl") in this story wasn't going to meet a similar fate. Glad scriptwriter Martin didn't disappoint.

[Kizer Sosay]

This episode had a lot of possibilities. The old witch couple, Sara and Jason, truly were, as mentioned at least twice, "ghouls." Well-acted on their parts (Dryden and Rowland, I assume). Their performances make this episode well worth a listen. I thought The actress who played Kathy was way overboard on the virginal personality, though.

I do like humor in the mysteries, but this went from being spooky to a farce. The ending was just a bit too corny. I was a bit chilled by the lines the old lady used when she was giving Kathy the "medicine" near the end. "It'll settle your stomach!" This was he peak of the suspense for me; a few minutes later, the reporter/boyfriend is on the phone calling Kathy "honey" already like they'd been together for weeks. And how far out in the burbs did these folks live that they had a blacksmith foundry pouring out smoke, but the city cop can come over and bust them? Oh well.... the stolen wallet idea was clever, I'll give Ian Martin that one.

This might be, IMHO, an average to slightly above average episode. Like nearly all of them, I enjoyed it and was unsure of how it would end. I liked the diversion of making the boyfriend seem somehow sinister at first. I was thinking that maybe Kathy was going be seduced and lose her virginity in NYC, after having drinks for the first time in her life, and that night, the old man would draw her blood for the elixir and wind up poisoning all the witches. Something like that.

[Fizzlestix]

Thanks for a great pick! I enjoyed this one, though I thought at first I had heard it before... turns out it was similarly styled to The Summer People, if memory serves.

My favorite thing in the show was the clock. It had twenty-four numbers on it, like a military clock, and the young girl just happens to arrive on the scene at exactly one o'clock - which, of course, is the thirteenth hour. The clock chimes thirteen times... very nice.

While the show really didn't "grab" me in a headlock for very long (the beginning was great, but once Kathy met the reporter, it was all downhill for me), I found great excitement in the production of this tale, specifically the attention to the sound effects: the clock, the hammering out of the iron, the bubbling of the elixir, etc.

These little details paint a wonderful landscape behind the talented craftspeople who are performing. Their art is enhanced by the effects which alone often boost the image in the mind's eye.

I must admit though, that the show had an extreme jump in Act 2, where the writing became somewhat predictable and droll. Comments like "I'm going to sleep like the dead" and "it'll settle your stomach" were a bit over the top. We got it without needing to be told. :wink:

Lastly, I find it interesting that here we have another episode which seems to put the religious norm in the minority. When Aunt Sarah gasps because Unlce Jason says the word "mass", I nodded lightly with a smirk on my face... typical for the CBSRMT. Of course, it IS a tale of witchcraft, so I suppose the whole Satan versus God thing is justified.

I don't like to admit it, but part of me wishes Kathy had never gone to New York. I would have found it interesting to see how the coven of witches faired with their new-found supply of virgin blood. :twisted:

All in all, a very enjoyable show. I gave this one a 4.3. Thanks again and best wishes!

[scarlson33]

This episode struck me as a well-rounded story. The witches have a problem, the girl has a problem, they solve it for each other then it gets complicated and there is a solution. And the girl gets out alive!

I enjoyed it for the story. Also, this one did seem more timeless. There weren't any glaring 1970's sayings or opinions in it, unlike the episode I had listened to right before it "The Plastic Man".

I have to admit, the title is also intriguing. That has pull for me sometimes. So, I didn't suggest this as the best episode ever, it was very listenable and entertaining.

Glad folks liked this episode!

Sonya