A witty, outrageous comedy that uncovers the lost history of the English Witch Trials. It guarantees a good laugh and plenty of penis jokes. Rating
Good
Willy Witches, a sharp, witty comedy from Mardy Cow Theatre, is their first show as a company. Rooted in lost history, Willy Witches takes inspiration from the phenomenon of men hallucinating the loss of their manhood during the English Witch Trials. And of course, they blamed it on the women they accused of witchcraft.
Female camaraderie drives the plot, as four women seek to rectify the unfortunate mishap of a spell cast by Hazel (Ellie Willis) that sees her husband’s manhood go missing. Hilariously, they search for the missing penis, utilising the theatre space well, from looking under audience members’ chairs to frantically marching around the space. When more manhoods fall off, the women are persecuted and hunted by the men in the town, led by the Witch Hunter (Gregory Turner).
The writers give the women an autonomy that was unknown to the patriarchal culture of seventeenth-century England. Sabrina (Hannah Breedon) is the local town prostitute, outspoken and exerting sexual freedom. Bonnie (Hannah Willey) is reserved, cringing at the other women’s crass language but finding her own feet with summoning penises and a girl crush. Minerva (Leah Serena) who lives alone with her cat, is direct with language and refuses to stay in line with social graces. Hazel is a housewife who has had enough of her husband’s dickish behaviour and takes matters into her own hands.
Writers Hannah Breedon and Hannah Willey take advantage of a multitude of penis-related jokes to ridicule male attitudes towards women during the seventeenth-century. Many glow-up and plastic penises are used as props, whether peeking out of the theatre curtains or used as candles at mass and creating amusing physical comedy. The production does not seek to take itself seriously, but rather revels in these outlandish jokes and witty punchlines that provoke barrels of laughter from the audience. One can’t help but delight in the absurd, silly nature of it all.
The four actors who play the witches also double as the four ‘Dicks’, some of whom are husbands of the women. They urinate, make jokes at each other’s expense and become Sabrina’s clientele. They become the fools of play, with the script poking fun at the fact that their phallus defines their masculinity.
Turner is great, displaying an excellent range in his continual costume, accent and characterisation changes as Father Fritz, Amelia and the Witch Hunter. He is particularly amusing as Amelia. Popular culture and gen z references come into play here, with Turner dressed in a Juicy tracksuit with a Stanley cup and a bad attitude, as the sassy ‘teenage bitch’ who supplies the women with spells and potions. Turner swaps between these characters in quick succession, managing to maintain each character without fault.
Willy Witches is a fast-paced, funny comedy that is great for a good laugh and some dick and toilet humour. For the most part the jokes are well written, with a few predictable ones sprinkled in. The unserious, witty script works well, and the cast fully embrace the playfulness of it all.
Written by Hannah Willey and Hannah Breedon
Directed by Grace Sadler
Lighting and sound by Ellie Burbeary
Willy Witches has completed its run as part of The Lambeth Fringe
