How much magic should be used to protect villagers from witchcraft?

Theatre lovers have one more weekend to find out what happens when the story of an enchantress not used to dealing with human beings helps her magically wise grandfather save the village of Ipswich in 1692 New England from becoming engaged in the same type of witch hunt as is occurring in nearby Salem.

Curtain call for the “The Enchantress of Ipswich,” is at 7 p.m. Fri., Oct. 13, and Sat., Oct. 14, at the Alaska Fine Arts Academy in Eagle River.

Directed by Ashleigh Russell, the seasonally appropriate play is on its second weekend run.

With its cast of 18 – 14 of which play minor roles as villagers – and a relatively simple, yet effective, set of background props, the play’s focuses on how Megan – the enchantress played by Mayeli “Crista” Gonvalez who comes from the Glen in the Land of Faerie where human trickery is not a factor in daily life – soon becomes entangled in the dishonesty and prejudice of the villagers she and her grandfather attempt to save from becoming victims of the witch hunt mentality.

As would be the case of a young woman, the literary portion of the tale turns to the confusion created in her heart when “love” comes to call in the form of the character “Nathaniel Ingersoll” played by Katie Tedrick.

The plot includes a lesson for villagers regarding bigotry as Megan and her grandfather work together to measure out just how much of their magic they should use to direct villagers to solutions versus allowing the villagers to work through life on their own.

“The Enchantress of Ipswich” by Beverly Sturgill was published in 1998 and is the only book listed on the author’s Amazon page. Purchase the book online at www.amazon.com/Beverly-Sturgill/e/B001KIPZXS.

The Alaska Fine Arts Academy is located at 12340 Old Glenn Highway, Suite 200 above the Alaska Industrial Hardware. Call 907-694-8909 for tickets or purchase at the door. Tickets for “The Enchantress of Ipswich” are $14 for general admission, $12 for military, senior citizens or students and $8 for children ages 12 and younger. Learn more about the Alaska Fine Arts Academy online at www.akfinearts.org.