Cry Witch is a popular immersive theater experience in Williamsburg, Brooklyn. The show has received mostly positive reviews from both audience members and critics alike. One aspect of the show that many people praise is the talented cast. The actors are highly skilled and committed to their roles, which helps to create a believable and engaging experience for the audience. Their performances are described as captivating and some audience members have even reported feeling a sense of dread and fear throughout the show. The production design of Cry Witch is another frequently mentioned point of praise.

Cry Witch

Convinced that her mother's suicide is the cause of her inability to love, Gigi returns to her home in Majorca to try to unlock some secrets.

246 pages, Hardcover

First published December 1, 1975

About the author

Naomi A. Hintze

An American writer of mystery, supernatural and gothic suspense novels for adults.

Hintze was born in Camden, Illinois, the daughter of Jesse Estes Agans and Estella Rang. She studied at Maryville College from 1927 to 1929, and at Ball State Teachers College from 1929 to 1930. On April 19, 1930, she married Harold Sanborn Hintze, with whom she had three children. Naomi was fascinated with psychic phenomena, a recurring theme in her books. She and her husband settled in Charlottesville, Virginia, where the nearby University of Virginia was the only American university with a Division of Parapsychology. Naomi was a member of the American Society of Psychical Research. She died on November 16, 1997.

In 1970, she was nominated for the Best First Novel Edgar Award for You'll Like My Mother published by Putnam in 1969. The book was adapted into the 1972 film of the same name, directed by Lamont Johnson and starring Patty Duke, Rosemary Murphy and Richard Thomas (The book was published in the United Kingdom in 1970 under the title The House With the Watching Eyes). Her third novel, Aloha Means Goodbye published by Random House in 1972, was made into a TV movie in 1974. (It was published in the United Kingdom as Hawaii for Danger.)

Cry witch williamsburg reviews

Go Ape Zipline & Adventure Park near Williamsburg is celebrating Halloween with its Haunted Trails, where creatures of all sorts may jump out, along with its Frights at Height aerial courses with a spooky twist. Courtesy of Go Ape Zipline & Adventure Park

The season of scares is already underway in the Williamsburg area, with a variety of attractions already offering events designed to make visitors shake in their shoes as Halloween approaches.

Busch Gardens’ Howl-O-Scream started earlier this month and will continue select nights at the amusement park through Oct. 31. But there’s more.

Ghosts and wine

New this year, The Original Ghost Tours is collaborating with the Williamsburg Winery for the first time on a unique ghost tour and wine tasting. The program, “The Lingering Spirits of The Williamsburg Winery,” will offer six bookings on select evenings beginning Sept. 25.

“This is exciting for us because we are always looking for new tours and new ideas,” said Angela M. Taverniti, general manager of The Original Ghost Tours. “This is kind of a ghost tours dream come true. What is better than a haunted winery with a haunted hotel on the property? I had a feeling the winery was haunted. I mean, how can it not be? Just the area that surrounds the property alone is filled (with) gruesome history.”

The Original Ghost Tours is collaborating with the Williamsburg Winery for the first time on a unique ghost tour and wine tasting. Courtesy of Consociate Media

The two-hour ghost tour will include a wine tasting and ghost tales with exclusive access through both the Wedmore Place hotel and the wine cellar on the Wessex Hundred estate. Participants will hear stories of strange occurrences and paranormal encounters reported by both winery staff and visitors.

Additionally, for two nights only, on Sept. 27 and Oct. 25, guests can also sign up for the “extreme” version of the tour, which involves a ghost hunt with a paranormal investigator and equipment. To book a tour, visit www.theghosttour.com.

“We can’t wait,” Taverniti said. “We hope it is a hit and everyone loves it.”

Haunted boat tours

Meanwhile, two unique boat tours through Jamestown Discovery Boat Tours are anticipated to sell out this season. The two year-round tours, now in their second year of operation, are especially popular during Halloween season, according to Corey Fenton, owner and captain for Jamestown Discovery Boat Tours.

The business has two tours to choose from: the Jamestown Haunted River Cruise and the Jamestown Murder Cruise. The murder cruise winds its way along Powhatan Creek near the Colonial Parkway, sharing true-crime tales of murder and mayhem with a particular focus on the unsolved murders of eight people along the parkway in the 1980s.

“That is the bulk of the tour,” Fenton said. “People love it.”

On the Haunted River Cruise, guests will hear stories related to ghostly activity along Jamestown Island.

“People don’t realize that Jamestown is one of the most haunted places in the country,” Fenton said. “We love to take people out on the water and tell good stories and show them a good time.”

These particular tours are not recommended for young children. To book a tour, visit www.jamestowndiscovery.com.

Frights at Height and haunted trails

Go Ape Zipline & Adventure Park, located within Freedom Park off Centerville Road, will also celebrate Halloween in September and October with new and returning programs.

New activities include the Go Ape Haunted Trails, described as a “ground-based experience that will take guests on a hike through the park, navigating various creatures from your deepest, darkest nightmares,” as well as a Halloween-themed outdoor escape room game called Forest EscAPE the Night!

Go Ape has also extended its Frights at Height aerial activities with zombies, ghosts and ghouls lying in wait to frighten climbers as they tackle the zipline and ropes courses.

“We are taking our autumn celebration to an elevated scare level this season,” Jason Budden, chief operating office at Go Ape USA, said in a news release. “The new Haunted Trails and Forest EscAPE the Night activities, along with an expansion of our Frights at Height experience, are going to get your heart pumping. As always, guests can also enjoy our daytime adventures with a festive fall and Halloween theme. We have options for everyone.”

To book a program through the local Go Ape, visit www.goape.com.

Family Frights

Families with little ones will want to check out Family Frights at Jamestown Settlement, which will commemorate its 10th season this year the weekend of Oct. 20-21. The two-night event will feature trick-or-treating, games, music, decorated houses and spooky ships.

Tickets for Jamestown Settlements’ Family Frights will be available online beginning Oct. 3.

“Family Frights offers plenty of frightful fun for families,” said Tracy Perkins, spokesperson for the Jamestown-Yorktown Foundation.

Tickets for Family Frights will be available online beginning Oct. 3. Tickets will not be available on site or at the door. For more information, visit www.jyfmuseums.org/familyfrights.

Other spooky possibilities

Colonial Williamsburg’s list of fall activities includes Haunted Williamsburg ghost tours, as well as the programs Cry Witch and To Hang A Pirate. The Play House of Horrors will feature performances by The Jug Broke Theatre Co. based on 18th century ghost stories on select dates through Nov. 22. For a complete list of programs, visit www.colonialwilliamsburg.org.

Beginning Sept. 28, Great Wolf Lodge will begin its Howl-O-Ween festivities through Oct. 31, with fall decorations, trick-or-treating and Halloween-themed activities for kids. For more information, visit www.greatwolf.com/williamsburg.

Brandy Centolanza, [email protected].

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Evening Events in Colonial Williamsburg

We can always use a little more fun in our lives, right? Now that the days are longer and nights are warmer, take the opportunity to spice up your nightlife with the incredible evening events in Colonial Williamsburg! Be enchanted, delighted, and amazed at all there is to do and see! After all, summers are for making memories.

From authentic 18th-century colonial ghost stories to creepy modern-day encounters, Haunted Williamsburg is the only tour with exclusive access to historic outdoor spaces, featuring costumed storytellers who share their unnerving tales. This one-hour candlelit walking ghost tour takes you strolling through town, into gardens, and beyond the barriers to the area’s most haunted sites. The tour begins at the Playhouse Stage on Palace Green and is designed for audiences ages 8 and older.

If there are little kids in your crew, Ghost Walk Junior is an exciting, interactive storytelling experience for those seeking less fright and more fun! Enjoy this 45-minute ghost tour of traditional spooky stories with a Colonial Williamsburg flavor.

Love a good debate? Just imagine—It’s the eve of the American Revolution, and there are just as many opinions about war and independence as we hear about in politics today. Step back in time and encounter points of view that run the gamut. Then, engage in the most important debate in our nation’s history—do we remain British or become Americans?

Nothing lifts the soul like music, and In 18th-century Williamsburg, music was a part of daily living. Unlike concerts held at the Palace, live music performances after hours at the Colonial Capitol were open to the public. Join the Governor’s Musick Ensemble in the resonant Hall of Burgesses for a special evening of chamber music!

This hour-long interactive event at the Capitol General Court lets you question witnesses, weigh evidence, and cast your vote for the guilt or innocence of Grace Sherwood, the last person known to have been convicted of witchcraft in Virginia.

In 1718, a Royal Navy expedition, dispatched from Virginia, killed Blackbeard the pirate off the coast of North Carolina. At the same time, 15 members of his crew were captured and brought to Williamsburg. They were tried for piracy at the Capitol by Virginia Governor Alexander Spotswood in 1719. Join in this recreation of the actual trial of Israel Hands, a member of Blackbeard’s crew. Hear the evidence and make a judgment! How would you sentence a pirate?

There’s something for everyone to joy— day and night when you visit King’s Creek, located here in the Historic Triangle!

The production design of Cry Witch is another frequently mentioned point of praise. The set and costumes are meticulously crafted to transport the audience back in time to the colonial era. The attention to detail is remarkable, and many visitors find themselves fully immersed in the historical world that is created on stage.

The storyline of Cry Witch is also highly regarded. It is based on the real-life events surrounding the Salem witch trials, but with a unique twist. The show explores themes of hysteria, paranoia, and the dangers of mob mentality. Many viewers appreciate the thought-provoking nature of the storytelling and the way it raises questions about justice and truth. While the majority of reviews for Cry Witch are positive, there are some criticisms as well. Some audience members feel that the show can be too intense or unsettling, and may not be suitable for those who are easily frightened. Additionally, a few individuals have commented on the high ticket prices, noting that the cost of attending the show can be prohibitive for some. Overall, Cry Witch in Williamsburg receives mostly positive reviews for its talented cast, immersive production design, and thought-provoking storytelling. It offers a unique and engaging theater experience that transports the audience back in time and explores timeless themes..

Reviews for "Is Cry Witch in Williamsburg Worth the Hype? Our Review"

- John Doe - 2/5

I was really disappointed with my experience at Cry Witch in Williamsburg. The whole thing felt so cheesy and staged. The actors were overacting and it was obvious that they were just following a script. The scares were predictable and didn't really give me the thrill I was expecting. Overall, it just felt like a tourist trap and I wouldn't recommend it to anyone looking for a genuine haunted house experience.

- Sarah Smith - 3/5

I had mixed feelings about Cry Witch in Williamsburg. While the set design and costumes were impressive, the overall execution fell short for me. The storyline was confusing and hard to follow. The scares were lackluster and not very intense. I also found the whole experience to be quite short, and for the price I paid, I expected more. It's an okay option if you're just looking for a quick Halloween-themed activity, but if you're a fan of immersive and genuinely scary haunted houses, you might want to pass on this one.

- Emily Johnson - 2/5

I was really looking forward to going to Cry Witch in Williamsburg after hearing so many positive reviews, but unfortunately, I left feeling incredibly underwhelmed. The scares were repetitive and there wasn't enough variety to keep me on my toes. The actors lacked authenticity and it was clear they were just going through the motions. The whole experience felt rushed and poorly organized. Save your money and find a better haunted house to visit this Halloween season.

Step Into the Dark Side: Our Review of Cry Witch in Williamsburg