Blithe Spirit

‘Blithe Spirit’ was first staged on Broadway in 1941 and then at Manchester Opera House, before opening in the West End on June 16th. The realities of the time were harsh and despite poor reviews the audience loved this darkly amusing satirical comedy - it ran for nearly 2000 performances.

It’s a Noel Coward classic, full of wit, emotion and farce and excellent timing is required in order to extract every bit of humour from the hysterical situation unfolding before our eyes.

Esher Theatre is a new venue for the group with the advantage of being able to accommodate a larger audience, 200 as opposed to around 80 in the informal setting of chairs around tables, but I have to confess that I missed the intimacy of Cobham Village Hall.

Steve Bloor-Black as director was obliged to advise the audience of the fact that two of the cast would be referring to scripts due to their stepping in at very short notice. That being said the two ladies concerned, Emma Thacker and Millie Hart did extremely well, considering the rehearsal time they had, but it was difficult for everyone to maintain a good pace in the dialogue. This particular play usually elicits much laughter at the happenings on stage but on Friday evening that didn’t happen. The audience were quite subdued and it was difficult for the actors to get anything back from them.

Never the less they gave it their all and must be commended for keeping the play together under such difficult circumstances.

Amy Aiello played the maid Edith with great enthusiasm, lots of dashing about and much deference to her mistress Ruth, and she gave a good performance.

The second wife Ruth is a strong-willed woman and Emma Thacker with her excellent diction made that quite clear.

Her husband Charles was played strongly by Stuart Evans who tried his best to keep things under control once Elvira materialised and really only showed his true colours at the end when he talks about the wonderful life he’ll lead without either wife! Apparently they will not be able to follow him to South America as ‘spirits can’t travel over water’.

Their friends who joined them for the séance, Dr and Mrs Bradman were played by Simon Ward and Emily Ingold respectively and they worked well together as a couple.

Madame Acarti is a person engaged in an alternative lifestyle who conducts seances and uses a spirit guide. As such a character I felt that Millie could have perhaps been a little more eccentric - maybe a more flamboyant/colourful outfit would have fitted the common perception of how such an eccentric might dress? Taking on the role at such short notice though she did incredibly well.

Playing the first wife Elvira, Sam almost stole the show. She was excellent. She ran the gamut of emotions from bored to cajoling with everything in between and her facial expressions were priceless.

Steve Bloor-Black’s direction was sound and as a director myself I know what a nightmare it is to have people drop out of a show so close to opening night. Well done to him for coping with that.

The first Act was overly long and at one and a half hours the audience become fidgety and lose concentration.Perhaps some cuts in the script would have halped.

I understand there is a much superior lighting rig at Esher Theatre but I didn’t pick up on anything more special happening. In fact, I thought that the stage appeared rather dark but that could well have been caused by the black wall at the back of the stage. The fireplace wall was cream and so the large black expanse on the back wall seemed incongruous.

Furniture and properties were suitable for the play and the sound was fine.

Costumes were good, I loved Sam’s grey one and Emma’s matched it well when she too re-appeared from the ‘other side’.

Summing up it was clear that all those involved in ‘Blythe Spirit’ had worked really hard to present the play and they did so under very difficult circumstances, but it did mean that the pace essential in farce was sometimes lacking.

Thank you for inviting me to see the play and for Cathy's hospitality on the evening

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