Sandra Shipley as Mrs. Bradman, Charles Edwards as Charles Condomine, Susan Louise O’Connor as Edith, Angela Lansbury as Madame Arcati, Charlotte Parry as Ruth Condomine and Simon Jones as Dr. Bradman in the North American tour of
Noël Coward’s BLITHE SPIRIT.
PHOTO BY JOAN MARCUS
BLITHE SPIRIT: Comedy/Farce by Noel Coward. Directed by Michael Blakemore . SHN Golden Gate Theater, 1 Taylor Street at Market, San Francisco. 888-746-1799 or www.shnsf.com.
January 20-February 1, 2015
A standing ovation for Angela Lansbury and cast in BLITHE SPIRIT [RATING:5]
Famed playwright Noel Coward is British to the nth degree and his plays are mostly drawing room comedies about the upper crust of Britain’s society of the 1930-40s. His sharp, acerbic, glib wit requires a light touch, ensemble acting with a delicate balance between the characters. For these reasons theater groups in the United States do not often successfully perform his plays.
In 2012 California Shakespeare Theatre (CalShakes) produced a memorable brilliant production of Blithe Spirit with actors rounded up from A.C.T.’s stable of performers. This reviewer suggested that it was the definitive staging. That honor has been replaced by Michael Blakemore’s staging with Angela Lansbury and a combined British and American cast that received a standing ovation last night at the Golden Gate Theatre.
It was a brilliant move to resurrect this 70 year old drawing room comedy with stage and screen icon Angela Lansbury as the inimitable Madame Arcati who brings to protoplasmic life Elvira who had passed over to the “other side.” Lansbury received a (another) Tony Award for the 2009 Broadway production and played to sold out audiences in the 2012 London production. The present National Tour is the London staging. Charles Edwards and Jemima Rooper from the London cast are recreating the roles of Charles Condimine and Elvira.
Noel Coward wrote the play in one week during a visit in Wales where he had gone to escape the German Blitz of 1941. It opened one month later and ran for 1,997 performances. It is a delightful comedy-fantasy-farce set in pre-war1937. Charles Condomine, a twice-married novelist living with his 2nd wife Ruth in an elegant English Manor home (Set by Simon Higlett) is doing research for a new mystery book. He arranges for Madame Arcati (Angela Lansbury)the local spiritual medium and suspected charlatan, to perform a séance. Dr. and Mrs. Bradman (Simon Jones and Sandra Shipley), having shared a pre-séance dinner served by klutzy maid Edith (diminutive, hilarious Susan Louise O’Connor), remain for the séance expecting a bit of fun at Madame Arcati’s expense.
While in a trance during the séance Madam Arcati unwittingly conjures ups the ghost of Charles’ dead wife Elvira. Only Charles can see and converse with Elvira and the fun begins. Conniving Elvira has ulterior motives. The major one is that she wants Charles for herself in the ‘other world’. The fact that he is married to Ruth is no obstacle to her machinations. Eventually both Charles and Ruth want Elvira to return to her rightful place. . . away from their home and back to the netherworld. Unfortunately Madame Arcati is unable to oblige the Condemines.
The fact that only Charles can see Elvira allows Coward to write some witty bits of dialog between Charles and Elvira that are misinterpreted by Ruth who becomes hysterically distraught. Things go from bad to worse when the selfish and spoiled Elvira, with murder in her heart, decides to sabotage Charles’s marriage to Ruth. Hilarious wildness ensues with surprising plot twists and disastrous results that keep the audience enthralled. Charles Edwards, Charlotte Parry and Jemima Rooper are pitch-perfect in their acting, dialog and physical interaction.
The main character is not Madame Arcati, although actors covet playing the role that is designed to steal scenes. Angela Lansbury is perfect for the part and director Blakemore has created stage action for her that bring down the house. An example is the ritual prancing she performs in preparation for her trance that is stylistic and farcical bringing gales of laughter and applause. Blakemore’s directional skills carry over to every actor with some of the best reserved for Susan Louise O’Connor’s performance as Edith.
The richly appointed setting of the play designed by Simon Higlett is a book-lined drawing room, with fireplace and ubiquitous wide French doors with billowing sheer curtains. What happens to that tidy set in the final scene is shocking. Not to be outdone by the acting, directing and sets are Katherine Roth’s costume designs and Martin Pakledinaz specific costumes for Lansbury’s Madame Arcati that earn their own accolades.
The play is performed in two acts with written projections informing us where and when each scene takes place. Running time is two hours and 30 minutes including a 15 minute intermission. This is a must see play.
Cast: Angela Lansbury as Madame Arcati; Charles Edwards as Charles Condomine; Jemima Rooper as Elvira; Charlotte Parry as Ruth Condomine; Simon Jones as Dr. Bradman; Susan Louise O’Connor as Edith and Sandra Shipley as Mrs. Bradman.
Creative Staff: Simon Higlett, scenic and costume designs; (Lansbury’s costume designs are by Martin Pakledinaz); Mark Jonathan, lighting design; Ben and Max Ringham, sound design; John Atherlay, stage manager..
Kedar Adour, MD
Courtesy of www.theatreworldinternetmagzzine.com
