Something Wicked This Way Comes

Prepare to get witch-slapped as three witchy queens and one horny devil converge on the Castro Theatre on Sat., March 21. It's a mid-year Halloween treat courtesy of drag superstar Peaches Christ. The evening will pay tribute to the classic comedy chiller "The Witches of Eastwick" (1987) with "The Witches of East Bay," a pre-show in Peaches' inimitable, incomparable, outrageous style. Of course, the original film will also be screened.

Witchy Alexandra Medford, played by the bewitching Cher in the film, will be essayed on stage by Cher impersonator extraordinaire Chad Michaels. "I've been impersonating Cher since the beginning of my career," Michaels told the B.A.R. "It's been a blast, and I enjoy what I do. Cher is a bad-ass and worthy of the adoration."

It turns out to be a mutual admiration society. "Cher is well aware of me, and has always been gracious, funny and real whenever I have encountered her," Michaels said.

Sukie Ridgemont, played by Michelle Pfeiffer in the movie, will be parodied by Peaches Christ. "But as is the case in most of our shows, it's a characterization of her performance through the character of Peaches Christ," Peaches explained. "So I'm really playing myself. Similarities will include a shared fear of pain and the fact that we both have a brood of children that look like they're from 'Village of the Damned!' "

As always, the show is centered on a film that's near and dear to Peaches' heart. "Witches of Eastwick is definitely a favorite film of mine," she said. "When I was a kid and first saw it, I loved it, especially the vomit scene and all the spectacle of the third act! Watching it now, I can't believe how adult it all is - we're talking devil orgies!"

Coco Peru will be seen on the great Castro stage as Jane Spofford, the Susan Sarandon role, while the devilishly sexy Thomas Dekker plays the satanically horny Daryl Van Horne, memorably played by Jack Nicholson in the original.

"I really want it to be a showcase for the extraordinary talents of Chad, Coco, Thomas and Peggy L'eggs," Peaches said. "I wrote the show for them. Poor Thomas always gets cast in the meek and understated roles in our shows, but now he gets to camp it up as the Devil himself! And Peggy as the cherry-vomiting religious nut is truly the role Peggy was born to play!"

Of course, with Michaels sharing the stage, Cher fans will experience the next best thing to the real deal. "There will definitely be a good dose of Cher in my performance," he said. "Peaches has written a very clever script that lends itself to some very funny situations. I'm hoping to put my own twist on a role that Cher has made legendary!"

"As always, we hope to make audiences laugh," said Peaches. "We also hope to surprise them. It's my goal with our shows to create unique entertainment. It's an experience!"

"The Witches of Eastwick," with pre-show "The Witches of East Bay," Sat., March 21, 3 & 8 p.m., Castro Theatre, 429 Castro St., SF. Tickets ($32-$110): peacheschrist.com