Blithe Spirit

One of more than 50 plays written by Noel Coward, ‘Blithe Spirit’ is one of the more well known pieces which revolves around the socialite and novelist Charles Condomine, who invites the eccentric medium and clairvoyant, Madame Arcati, to his house to conduct a séance, hoping to gather material for his next book. But the scheme backfires after the séance when he is haunted by the ghost of his temperamental first wife, Elvira. Elvira makes continual attempts to disrupt Charles's marriage to his second wife, Ruth, who until her own tragic demise cannot see or hear Elvira. 

‘Charles’ played by Alan Humphries fulfilled the role of debonair socialite with sophistication and he and particularly his concerned wife ‘Ruth’ played by Melanie Brown maintained a solid and natural performance throughout. Madame Arcati played by Liz Whitehouse the local medium, is every bit eccentric and conquered the role with boisterous enthusiasm. Meanwhile ‘Edith’ the maid played by Alisha James, pops in and out of the action also giving a good performance, often at nervous high speed to impress the Condomines.

Janet Miller - Weir as ‘Elvira’ gave a ‘spirited’ performance and was convincingly jealous of Charles’ second wife Ruth, whilst good support was provided by Sheila Hampton as ‘Mrs Bradman’ and Alan Wollaston as Charles’ equally sceptical friend ‘Dr Bradman’.

The set added great atmosphere to the production, enhanced by all the special effects, costumes lighting and change of scene music, all making for a very entertaining evening.

The production in the capable hands of Matt Jeffrey (Director) and Andy Brown (Producer) was dedicated to the late Lesley Blyther who sadly died in August, but had been a Norbury stalwart and performed in their 1974 production.

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