A SAMUEL FRENCH, INC. TITLE

The Sugar Witch

Full-Length Play, Drama  /  3w, 3m

Nathan Sanders

Winner! "WAVE" Magazine's Theatre Award for "Standout New Work"

"Bewitching!" - San Jose Mercury News

  • Cast Size
    Cast Size
    3w, 3m
  • Audience
    Target Audience
    Adult
Accolades
Accolades
  • Winner! "WAVE" Magazine's Theatre Award for "Standout New Work"

Details

Summary
The Bean family in Sugar Bean, Florida live under an ancient family curse. The surviving members of the town's founding family have reached the end of their rope. Just when things can't possibly get any worse, tragedy strikes as a mysterious and brutal murder takes place in the Bean family home. The crime places "Moses" and "Sisser" in grave danger as "Annabelle", the last in a long-line of so-called "Sugar Witches", attempts to end the curse placed on their heads by the dying words of her very own grandmother.

Dark family secrets are revealed and unusual passions are ignited as the family confronts madness, truth and the destructive legacy of racism as the spirits of the dead walk the dark swamp, haunting the hearts of all who reside there. The Sugar Witch is a dark, Southern Gothic play that will linger in the minds of the audience long after the curtain falls.

History

The Sugar Witch premiered at Northside Theatre Company in San Jose, CA in October 2007 under the direction of Richard T. Orlando.

Cast Attributes
SISSER - late 30s, Southern, obese, and somewhat mad. A wheel-chairbound lover of Little Debbie snack cakes. Capable of anything – even murder.
RUTH ANN MEEKS - late 30s, Southern, racist, and half-insane. A “church-goer,” plain, not very pretty. Most likely the product of incest.
ANNABELLE - 50s, African-American; Southern swamp mystic and conjure woman. Brews magical potions from sugar cane molasses. The last in a long-line of powerful “sugar witches.”
MOSES BEAN - mid 20s, Southern, handsome and boyish. A mechanic at the local Texaco station. Innocent and virginal; a “gender-reversed Sleeping Beauty.”
HANK HARTLEY - 30s, Southern, handsome and strong. The play’s “gentleman caller.” Recently returned to Sugar Bean to take over his family’s funeral home business. Madly “in-love” yet hiding a dark secret.
GRANDDADDY MEEKS - 60s-70s, Southern redneck; racist, abusive and mean. Ruth Ann’s grandfather.
  • Time Period Present Day
  • Setting The Bean family home and surrounding swampland in fictitious Sugar Bean, Florida.
  • Cautions
    • Mild Adult Themes

Media

REVIEWS

"Bewitching!" - San Jose Mercury News

"Spellbinding...a gem of special effects, dead bodies, silent demons, flickering campfires and flying cats...eerie... chilling... moody...[The Sugar Witch] embraces gay/lesbian themes as heartily as anything you'll get south of San Francisco...[a] gender-reversed Sleeping Beauty!" - Metro Weekly, Silicon Valley

"A hauntingly creepy delight...lyrically written... a standout...quality play...intriguing... impressive...wonderful...(a) story of decay, violence and transformation...Li'l Abner meets William Faulkner... [The Sugar Witch] is filled with weird, surreal, stageworthy dramatic moments and situations...a satisfying balance between gothic horror and humor!" - Palo Alto Daily News

Licensing & Materials

  • Minimum Fee: $120 per performance

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Authors

Author

Nathan Sanders

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