‘The Witches’ are coming to St. Charles North

Imagine real witches who dress in ordinary clothes and work in ordinary jobs walking in your town.

Doesn’t seem so bad, does it?

But there is one problem: they hate children.

Bring the family to enjoy St. Charles North High School production of “The Witches” this weekend.

The play, which opened Thursday, continues at 7:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday, Nov. 4-5.

This Roald Dahl classic tells the tale of a 7-year-old boy who has a run-in with some real life witches. Witches, as the young hero learns, hate children. With help from a friend and his somewhat magical grandmother, the hero tries to expose the witches before they dispose of him and turn all children into mice.

“The high school has never done a children’s theater,” said Natalee Hryniewicz, director. “I really love the energy in the production, and I hope the students will too.”

This is Hryniewicz’s third time directing a play at St. Charles North High School.

She said she chose the play because of all the educational opportunities with makeup and effects.

“My character was more like me when I was younger with being more spontaneous,” said Dan Solon, 15, of St. Charles.

Solon plays the lead young boy who is later turned into a mouse by the witches.

He has been acting for five years and started when his parents found him acting in front of his cousins.

“I’m not used to acting with big sets, like the huge chairs we have onstage,” Solon said. “But the director has really helped me with the acting.”

Admission is $5 for students and $7 for adults. St. Charles North High School is at 255 Red Gate Road in St. Charles. For details, call (630) 443-5700.