Blithe Spirit

It is not every Society who would give permission for their busy NODA Representative to do their critique at Dress Rehearsal instead of at an actual performance.  I am very grateful that Idle & Thackley dared to give their consent for this and I can honestly say that I had a most enjoyable evening, loved every minute and was sorry when the last visually fantastic scene brought the production to its end.  It being the dress rehearsal gave me the advantage of meeting the cast over a cuppa at the interval, hearing their fears, tales of rehearsal problems and sharing their anxieties (which, as always, although very real, were mostly pre show nerves!!)

The open set at the start was beautiful, the design and colours complimenting one another perfectly, very busy and interesting to look at; with period furniture, inset bookcase, ornaments, well stocked drinks trolley, pictures, French windows and many stage props making the elegant room believable as a home, even though I understand some of the paint was still drying!. The door took quite a lot of furious banging by the various characters as they expressed their anger but never did a wall or picture shake.  Lighting and sound effects were well designed and effective.

The Characters :- Madame Arcati – the part that will be forever associated with Margaret Rutherford - was hilariously and effectively played by the excellent character actress Alyson Hunter, making entirely her own interpretation of the role, still rather an eccentric but with  a vague hint of Hyacinth Bouquet .  Charles Condomine (Liam Hunter),  a very suave character reminding me very much of the early days of Hugh Laurie.  Elvira (Sara Devitt) had gone to the trouble of even using grey nail varnish to complement her ghostly make-up, white costume and white flowing wig, making her a very teasing, beautiful ghost of the ex wife, whose timing of some of the more ‘bitchy’ lines could not have been better. The present wife – Ruth - was well, supportively and sympathetically portrayed by Danielle Rice, and excellently supported by Bob Cochrane & Anne Bateson as Dr & Mrs Bradman.  Ben Whitney (Edward the ex Royal Navy Butler) added to and completed this very well cast and performed play.

The final scene was visually and scarily excellent, with Charles trying desperately to keep his sanity, making sure the ghosts of his now two late wives had really gone forever and left him in peace, – slowly but surely, we saw the beautiful, solid set destroyed by the unseen wives  combined, ghostly vindictive  actions.

This production (by the members themselves) and this Society deserve the utmost support for a well loved, well designed, produced and acted play.

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