Blithe Spirit

~~Blithe Spirit - Noel Coward
This is one of my favourite plays and I really enjoyed watching this production. The set was very good with lots of detail, with some clever little poltergeist tricks towards the end. Wendy Cronan directed the production and there are some great moments and effects, the play has also been cast very well.
Charles Condomine (John West) plays the husband with Ruth (Julie Lax) his 2nd wife there are some great lines between them at the start of the play, when she bring up the subject of Elvira his first wife (Alla Mills) who died some years before.
They are holding a séance that evening with their guests Dr Bradman (Steve Russell) and Mrs Bradman (Angela Hunt) a likeable pair and the great Madame Arcarti (June Buxton) they also have a maid in training Edith (Marina Brown-Smith).
Nothing seems to happen but after the guests leave Elvira returns to her home I loved her costume and make-up, Charles is the only one able to see her and starts having conversation with his first wife much to the horror of his second that thinks he has gone mad until he explains Elvira has returned. Lots of funny moments then follow with the wives auguring between themselves via Charles.
Madame Arcarti is called back to the house to try to get rid of her spirit and warms Ruth that maybe she is after Charles, it turns out that Edith is psychic and it was her that unfortunately Elvira responded to. They hatch a plan to send the Spirit away later that evening. The only problem is Ruth takes the car and is killed in the crash that Elvira had intended for Charles as she had sorted the brakes.
Both wives then are ghosts and come to plague Charles, Madam Arcarti helps him remove the spirits and tells him he should leave, as although they have gone the spirits could return. Charles packs and leaves his home telling the wives if they are still here that it’s the end and he is leaving for good, as he goes out the door the set starts drop things from the wall etc and is very funny. There were quite a few prompts on the first night but I am sure that was just first night nerves. It was a very enjoyable evening. Thank you.  

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