A romantic comedy between a witch and a publisher is portrayed for the first time at Village Square Theatre for two weekends.

Starting 2024, Lexington’s resident community theater performs “Bell, Book, and Candle,” the perennial supernatural comedy that inspired the 1958 film of the same name featuring Jimmy Stewart and Kim Novak.

“There’s comedy and drama,” said director Diana Price, stating it’s definitely a romantic comedy focused mainly on the two main characters, Gillian Holroyd and Shepherd Henderson. Gillian is the witch and Shepherd is the male love interest. There’s comedic relief from the other characters Queenie Holroyd, Nicky Holroyd and Sidney Redlitch.

“It’s a good date night play,” Price said.

The play features a small cast, including just the five above mentioned characters, plus Gillian’s cat.

“All witches have a familiar and she has a cat,” Price offered. “When she casts a spell, she has the cat and is stroking it and does spells through the cat.”

The story focuses on Gillian falling in love with Shepherd despite one of the rules of being a witch being that she can’t fall in love.

 “Witches can’t cry, fall in love, and they can’t blush,” Price said.

Based in a New York apartment setting, with much of the action occurring in Gillian’s living room, the story sees her cast a spell on Shepherd, but they eventually find themselves falling in love, which in turn could make Gillian lose her powers, but she has a desire to be as normal as possible. 

There’s some spells and comedy, but Price said there is a happy ending. She added that they had fun with special effects and spells, which makes the play more interesting. This play is definitely not slow-paced, and Price said there is a handful of mild language, giving it perhaps a PG rating. The director added that young kids probably won’t be into it, as they just won’t get it, but teens may enjoy it.

“The witches are trying to fit in with society,” Price said of the play’s themes. “They blend in to a normal life.”

People don’t know they’re witches from the outside looking in, the director explained.

If the play sounds vaguely familiar to the classic TV show “Bewitched,” it should.

“This play was a precursor to the ‘Bewitched’ series,” Price said, referring to the ‘60s sitcom that follows a witch who falls in love and eventually marries an ordinary man. While “Bell, Book, and Candle” doesn’t have a marriage, there are some similarities. 

Price described Gillian as “very attractive” and “luring, causing guys to turn heads.” As for Shepherd, he is “a handsome middle-aged guy who might pique females to look.”

She described Nicky as “very flamboyant and dressing in bright colors, while Queenie is “very funny,” delivering plentiful comedy.

The cast is “very seasoned,” Price said, adding that this should assure a good time for those who attend.