Noel Coward wrote Blithe Spirit in 1941 while having a break from his blitzed apartment in London. He completed this gloriously witty piece in just six days and wanted to write a ‘very gay, superficial’ comedy. The plot unfolds with Charles Condomine, played very ably by Chris Clarke, inviting the renowned supernatural medium, Madame Arcati and some friends around for a séance.
Outwardly, he is doing research for a book but really intends to expose Madam Arcati as a fraud. However, he gets more than he bargained for, when his first wife, Elvira materialises.
Mayhem ensues, led by Madame Arcati – played brilliantly by Liz Peskin – dancing, singing and moaning her way around the stage. Rebecca Davey is very good as the sensible but confused second-wife Ruth Condomine and Mark Waghorn and Charlotte Gregory provide excellent comic support as Dr and Mrs Bradman.
It is difficult to single out one performance in Hilary Rhodes well-directed and balanced ensemble piece, but Amanda Wells as Elvira captured Coward’s style most effectively. Beth Innes achieves comedic value as Edith the maid, which will develop during the run.
The set, lights and costume all worked but the production could dispense with two unnecessary scene changes, which interrupted the flow and slowed the performance.
Paul Henley Washford
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