This risqué performance had the audience in stitches and, at times, with their jaws dropped as the Bath Operatic and Drama Society (BODS) took to the stage for their main musical of the year.

Adapted from John Updike’s novel, the musical certainly earns its adult content warning. Three bored and unsatisfied women, Alexandra Spofford, Jane Smart and Sukie Rougemount, played by Emma Puddick, Sabrina Messer and Jenny Lavender, unwittingly conjure up the Devil, in the guise of Darryl Van Horne, played by Richard Pugh.

The witches gel well together and exude the lust that the script requires. Pugh perfectly embodies the type of sleazy guy that most women would avoid if they saw him propping up a bar. However, he convincingly manages to seduce the witches and his physical comedy adds a lot of laughs.

The four characters may be the focus of the play, but there are some fantastic, well choreographed, big musical numbers involving the whole cast. During Eastwick Knows it was difficult to hear the soloists over the chorus but these issues quickly ironed themselves out as the performance progressed.

The set was cleverly designed and does a neat job of accommodating plenty of scene changes.

Most are relatively simple and effective but the a extravagant bedroom of Darryl van Horne is a spectacle in its own right and certainly adds even more spice to the already rather raunchy production. The bedroom is also the setting for a flying scene which was skilfully achieved.

This bewitching musical comedy is, on the whole, enjoyable but the first act did feel a little too long. However, the pace picks up in act two.

The Witches of Eastwick is a technically difficult show and the first night of BODS’ production was not polished to perfection, but it was not far off and if you’re looking for a smutty laugh, it’s worth a visit.