Written by Noel
Coward
Directed by Kate
Blackhurst
Canberra Rep at
Theatre 3
21 November to 6
December, 2014
Review by Len Power
27 November 2014
‘Blithe Spirit’ by Noel Coward ran for nearly 2,000
performances in its initial run during the Second World War in London and is
revived more than most of Coward’s other plays.
Its timeless appeal continues to delight audiences with its clever plot
and witty dialogue.
Set in 1941, a writer, looking to gather incidental detail
for a novel he is writing, invites a local psychic to perform a séance at his
home. Though sceptical, he and his new
wife get more than they bargained for when the psychic accidentally brings the
ghost of the writer’s deceased first wife back from the dead and she seems determined
to stay.
On a fabulous and atmospheric set by Andrew Kay, which drew
gasps from the audience when first revealed, Kate Blackhurst’s production for
Canberra Rep captures English manners and morals of the period very well. Coward’s plays rely heavily on the way the
dialogue is delivered and many of the laughs come from the sub-text. Characters often say one thing but really
mean another. Get this right and the
play takes off.
In the leading role of Charles Condomine, Peter Holland
gives a well-paced, charming and highly entertaining performance. Emma Wood, as his current wife, Ruth, is a
delight, at first condescending and secure in her little world and then very
quickly losing self-control as the play progresses. Overcoming a poor costume choice, Anita
Davenport gives a charmingly wicked and teasingly sexy performance as the ghost
of Charles’ first wife, Elvira. In the
smaller roles of Doctor Bradman and his wife, Don Smith and Elaine Noon are
very effective. Elaine Noon showed
considerable skill with Coward’s dialogue, managing to get some of the biggest
laughs of the evening. The fun role of
Edith, the maid, was nicely played by Yanina Clifton.
Most interest in the casting of this play always centres
around the character of the psychic, Madame Arcati. Original London cast member, Margaret
Rutherford, put an indelible stamp on this role that has been hard for
subsequent actresses to overcome. In
this production, Liz St Clair-Long bursts onto the stage with furious energy
and delightful eccentricity. A wild,
red-haired Bohemian with a touch of gypsy about her, she gives a memorably
fascinating and funny performance.
The costumes for the show by Anna Senior were generally
well-executed with stylish period clothes for the women. I was, however, disappointed by the costume,
makeup and hairstyle chosen for the character of Elvira. She may be a ghost but she must look
attractive. This choice of costume and
dull hairstyle managed to de-glamourize the usually beautiful actress playing
her. We know she’s a ghost from the
script so the metallic-looking ghost makeup was an unnecessary distraction.
Kate Blackhurst has done excellent work overall for her
first time as director for Canberra Rep.
It was great to see a near-capacity audience last Thursday hugely
enjoying every moment of Noel Coward’s classic play.
Originally broadcast on Artsound FM 92.7 ‘Dress Circle’ showbiz program
with Bill Stephens on Sunday 30 November 2014 from 5pm.