Kissing the witch is a collection of interconnected fairy tale retellings written by Emma Donoghue. This collection was first published in 1997 and consists of thirteen short stories, each focusing on different female characters from classic fairy tales. The stories in Kissing the witch challenge traditional portrayals of these characters and explore themes of power, agency, and love. Donoghue reimagines well-known tales such as "Cinderella," "Snow White," and "The Little Mermaid," but with a feminist twist. She gives these characters more depth and complexity and explores their desires, motivations, and relationships with other women. Each story in Kissing the witch builds upon the previous one, creating a narrative web that connects all the characters and their journeys.
“Kissing the Witch” is a cycle of short stories based on fairy tales, with the addition of feminist twists and every story being interrelated. One story leads to another, and a supporting character in one story may be the main character in the next story. The central theme of the book is women telling their secret histories to each other.
On Thursday, March 2, the Whitman community will have the exciting opportunity to get the lesbian feminist perspective on classic fairy tales they didn t know they needed. This play is unique in that it is a small cast with only four actors who portray many characters over the course of the play, so these costumes had to be specially designed to help them transform throughout the show into multiple characters, Chvatal said.
Each story in Kissing the witch builds upon the previous one, creating a narrative web that connects all the characters and their journeys. Through these interconnected tales, Donoghue explores themes such as sisterhood, women supporting women, and challenging societal expectations and norms. In addition to her fresh take on these classic stories, Donoghue's writing style is also notable.
“Kissing the Witch” graces the Harper Joy Theatre stage
On Thursday, March 2, the Whitman community will have the exciting opportunity to get the lesbian feminist perspective on classic fairy tales they didn’t know they needed. “Kissing the Witch,” a play based on a novel by Emma Donoghue, will be running from Thursday to Sunday, March 5.
“Kissing the Witch” is a cycle of short stories based on fairy tales, with the addition of feminist twists and every story being interrelated. One story leads to another, and a supporting character in one story may be the main character in the next story. The central theme of the book is women telling their secret histories to each other.
Associate Professor of Theatre and Dance Laura Hope is directing and producing the play. She met Donoghue while working at a theater company called the Festival of Irish Women Playwrights in the early 2000s. She was moved by Donoghue’s original novel, so she suggested turning it into a play; they did a world premiere. Donoghue went on to become a very successful writer and was nominated for an Academy Award for her writing.
“Her books are brimming with intelligence but also real empathy and real hope. [There is] a lot about women trying to escape situations where they’re not allowed to be their authentic selves,” Hope said.
Donoghue writes from a lesbian feminist perspective about things that aren’t what they appear to be, finding yourself, finding your identity and finding your voice. Hope thought this would be the perfect play for a college campus because these themes are so prevalent in college.
“This play feels like a big hug from [Donoghue] for anybody that’s engaging with these topics of who I am versus who other people want me to be,” Hope said.
The play has only four actors. Senior Taegan Snyder, who is doing her acting thesis on this play, appreciates this small cast a lot.
“The last play I was in with [Hope] was 13 people, and that was really chaotic and hard to manage at times. I like the smaller cast because it’s easier to work with fewer people,” Snyder said.
Having a small cast also presents certain differences for the Costumes Department. Visiting Assistant Professor in Theatre and Dance and Costume Shop Director Aaron Chvatal designed the show, including shredded witch costumes and a donkey head made of raffia.
“This play is unique in that it is a small cast with only four actors who portray many characters over the course of the play, so these costumes had to be specially designed to help them transform throughout the show into multiple characters,” Chvatal said.
Chvatal has been involved in theatre all his life, and he has been a part of several theatre departments as both an actor and costume designer. He’s been with Whitman for around a year.
“Here at Whitman, we do have the ability to produce from scratch some really incredible things. Whitman is a great place as far as theatre and design are concerned,” Chvatal said. “Theatre is my life; it’s my passion, and I love getting to work with people who are also very passionate about this.”
Hope shares the same passion for theatre and describes the theatre major as “the hidden gem in liberal arts.” She described how it teaches so many transferable skills, such as public speaking, writing, leadership skills, teamwork and working on a deadline.
Snyder has enjoyed being a theatre major, and says that theatre is what she has wanted to do with her life for a long time. She’s been in plays since she was six or seven years old and has loved being a part of this one.
“I really like our set. Also, our sound designer is putting some amazing sounds together. Now that I’m hearing them, it’s really bringing the play together. I also really like my castmates,” Snyder said.
The surprising turnabouts in this play make for an exciting theatrical experience.
“Part of the joy of discovering this play for the first time is the twists; how she retells the story of ‘Beauty and the Beast,’ and how she retells the story of ‘The Little Mermaid’ in which there are no mermaids,” Hope said.
“Kissing the Witch” is jam-packed with stories and themes for everyone. It’s both serious and comedic, and it contains questions of identity and true love. It also has lots of room for reflection, not only about the notion of identity, but the tales that are ingrained in our culture and what they mean.
The show will run on March 2 at 8 p.m., March 3 at 8 p.m., March 4 at 2 p.m. and 8 p.m. and March 5 at 2 p.m. Tickets are available at the Harper Joy Box Office during working hours or at the door 45 minutes before the show.
On Thursday, March 2, the Whitman community will have the exciting opportunity to get the lesbian feminist perspective on classic fairy tales they didn’t know they needed. “Kissing the Witch,” a play based on a novel by Emma Donoghue, will be running from Thursday to Sunday, March 5.
She combines poetic language with a modern, conversational tone, creating a unique and engaging reading experience. Her writing is thought-provoking, and she raises questions about gender, identity, and the construction of femininity in fairy tales. Overall, Kissing the witch is a captivating and empowering collection of fairy tale retellings. Donoghue's reimagining of these classic stories offers new perspectives on familiar characters and challenges traditional gender roles. It is a must-read for anyone interested in feminist literature and fairy tale adaptations..
Reviews for "Ksing the Witch: Empowerment for Women through Magic"
1. John - 2/5: As a horror enthusiast, I was hoping for a bone-chilling experience with "Ksing the witch," but unfortunately, it fell flat for me. The story was sluggish and lacked any real tension. The characters were nothing more than cliched stereotypes, and their actions felt forced and unnatural. The supposed twists in the plot were predictable and underwhelming, making the overall experience rather dull. In my opinion, "Ksing the witch" failed to deliver the scares and thrills it promised.
2. Sarah - 1/5: "Ksing the witch" is a book I regret wasting my time on. The writing was absolutely atrocious, full of grammatical errors and sloppy punctuation. It was incredibly frustrating to try and decipher the author's intended meaning amidst all the confusion. Furthermore, the story itself was convoluted and made no sense whatsoever. It jumped all over the place with no clear direction, leaving me feeling bewildered and disconnected. I would strongly discourage anyone from reading this book.
3. Emily - 2/5: I was excited to delve into the world of "Ksing the witch," but I was left sorely disappointed. The characters lacked depth, and their motivations were unclear throughout the entire story. The author failed to establish a cohesive narrative, leaving me confused and struggling to piece together the plot. The dialogues were unrealistic and cheesy, making it difficult to emotionally invest in the story. Overall, "Ksing the witch" failed to captivate and left me feeling unsatisfied.