The Poway Performing Arts Company has taken another gamble with its controversial production of Dark of the Moon.

Written by Howard Richardson and William Berney in the early 1940s, Dark of the Moon is a tragicomic fantasy based on the folk song "Barbara Allen." This version of the popular English and Scottish ballad tells the story of the forbidden love between Barbara Allen and John, the Witch Boy.

John is given the chance to become human in order to marry his sweetheart, Barbara Allen, on the condition that she remain faithful to him for one year after their wedding.

Set in Appalachia, the play exposes a small town's hypocrisy and brutality and explores such subjects as church corruption, peer pressure, lust, guilt and fear. In addition, it explores both the dichotomy and the interconnectedness of the natural and the supernatural worlds.

This poses a challenge to director Annette Huffman, who creates two separate worlds onstage simultaneously. Joined by her able crew, made up of Russ Orr (set), Jim Millard (lighting), Lou Alliano (sound) and Lynne Ciccarelli (costumes), Huffman conveys both a small village and a magical forest (complete with mossy, misty hills and a real running waterfall).

Netherworld forest folk Julie Anderson as the Dark Witch and Dawn Marie Himlin as the Fair Witch are perfect foils for one another; one is dark and butch, the other light and femme.

These witch women are hypnotic to watch as they compete for John's affections and explore each other's bodies. They add a fierce sexual charge to the show with their sensual dances choreographed by Himlin.

The tightly knit Smoky Mountain townsfolk are equally captivating. Consumed with superstition and fear, these ensemble actors add heightened energy to the play, particularly Randy Howell as Barbara Allen's doltish redneck beau Marvin Hudgens. The ensemble performers are at their best in the final church scene, when they impose a terrifying collective will onto members of the congregation.

Jonathan Sachs as the pale-skinned, raven-haired John, the Witch Boy, gives an understated performance as the man caught between two realms. Though Sachs' delivery is slightly flat at the beginning of the play, he comes alive when sharing the stage with Anderson, Himlin and especially Bain. Sachs and Bain share an intense chemistry that anchors the show.

Though portions of the play become melodramatic and somewhat campy, Huffman is careful to keep her cast in check.

For example, when Jim Payton as Mr. Allen delivers roaringly funny lines about concern over his daughter being the town slut, he never goes over the top. Instead, he seems to believe in his convoluted world, and because of this, the audience believes, too. Payton is also terrific when transforming into the hunch-backed, hoarse-voiced Conjure Man.

Elaine Rinner-Singer as Mrs. Allen and the Conjure Woman tackles her dual roles successfully, as well. She begins as a hag-like meddler, then hecomes an anguished mother, moved to tears by the sermon delivered by moonshine-drinking Preacher Haggler (Lou Dominic).

The cast is rounded out with excellent performances by Arnber Lehning, John Ivey, Kurt Braun, Kay Brand, David Birney, Kryzzy Hobson, Kristine Kacee and Jim Millard.

Don't miss Dark of the Moon, a play that sparks such controversy and interest that you will be talking about it for days to come.