By Lynn Venhaus

A supernatural romantic comedy is a surprisingly delectable sweet treat this holiday season. (Who knew?) Stylish and witty, “Bell, Book & Candle” casts an enchanting ensemble who appear to be having a jolly good time in this sophisticated retro throwback presented by Stray Dog Theatre.

When you think of witches, do those three macabre ones in “Macbeth” first come to mind, stirring a bubbling cauldron? Or is it the mean and nasty one in “Into the Woods,” with the haunting lyric “Witches can be right”? What about the unforgettable classic clash in ‘The Wizard of Oz” setting up sides with “Are you a good witch or a bad witch?”

Perhaps the all-American witch Samantha Stevens of the beloved sitcom “Bewitched,” 1964-1972, who lived in the suburbs and pretended to be a normal housewife, changed perceptions from scary to fitting in.

But it was Gillian Holroyd who broke the mold on the Broadway stage in 1950 in playwright John Van Druten’s “Bell, Book & Candle.” He created the character and added all the ingredients to bewitch, bother and bewilder, including a black cat, magic spells, hocus pocus, romance and fantasy.

Gillian was a very modern woman with a glamorous life, ensconced in the tony Murray Hill neighborhood of New York City – only she had a secret. She practiced witchcraft. The play became a popular 1958 movie starring Kim Novak, James Stewart and Elsa Lanchester.

Claire Coffey personifies every facet of Gillian, looking classy and elegant in several chic outfits assembled by costume designer Colleen Michelson, then serious when she’s casting spells and hatching plots.

In her cozy and cosmopolitan apartment, she chats with her daffy Aunt Queenie, a busybody who finds out information one way or the other. Liz Mischel embodies the eccentricities of the character, and always bursts in, wearing colorful garb.

Gillian is intrigued by her new neighbor, polite and polished publisher Shepherd Henderson (Joel Wilper), and she finds out he’s dating a rival from her college days, expecting to get engaged. Before you can say abracadabra, this witchy woman arranges him to fall head over heels in love with her instead. It’s Christmas Eve, no less.

One wrinkle: Witches, in this supernatural tale, cannot fall in love or else they lose their power. Therefore, life gets more complicated, not less. How far can this relationship go without secrets being revealed?

The gallant and urbane Shep is as smitten as a teenager, as if a thunderbolt struck him, not thinking rationally, but he’ll eventually be confronted by reality. Wilper conveys both sides of Shep convincingly.

Other characters factoring into the mayhem – her snarky, rakish brother Nicky (Victor Mendez), author Sidney Redlitch (Gary Wells) and her cat, Pyewacket. Nicky and Redlitch have collaborated with a book on witches in NYC, but Shep is highly skeptical.

Oh, what a tangled web she weaves, practicing to deceive, but without spoiling the plot, magic can work wonders.

Director Gary F. Bell keeps everything light-hearted and breezy, focusing on his cast’s ability to charm. Coffey and Wilper ground the fantasy as a twisty rom-com while the supporting players go a little wackier and broader.

Bell also designed the swanky set, and it’s a snazzy vintage collection of furniture and fashionable accents. Jude Hagene painted the attractive living room. Tyler Duenow’s lighting design gives the parlor a warm glow.

As always, Justin Been has selected a swinging soundtrack suited for 1950s high society with a merry touch of Rat Pack coolness.

While “Bell, Book and Candle” is traditional in structure, but not in subject matter, this is a bright bauble that is well-suited to comfortably and merrily entertain.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         

“A witch never gets caught. Don’t forget that she has magic in her fingers and devilry dancing in her blood.” — Roald Dahl, “The Witches”

Stray Dog Theatre presents “Bell, Book and Candle” Thursdays through Saturdays at 8 p.m., Dec. 5 through 21, with an additional performance at 2 pm on Sunday, Dec. 15. Performances take place at Tower Grove Abbey, 2336 Tennessee in Tower Grove East. Box Office/Will Call opens 1 hour prior to performance. Tower Grove Abbey is a “general seating” theatre. For more information: www.straydogtheatre.org or call (314) 365-1995