Halloween is just days away so if you’re looking for spectral entertainment that’s not too, too scary you might want to take in Playcrafters Barn Theatre’s current offering of Noel Coward’s classic Blythe Spirit a “veddy, veddy” entertaining and quintessentially British drawing room comedy directed by Grey White.
Blithe Spirit is one of the very prolific actor, director, composer, singer and playwright, Noel Coward’s, best known and oft produced works. Beginning his iconic theater and film career at the tender age of 12, he progressed to excel at – per the Encyclopedia Britannica – “highly polished comedies of manners” with “clipped speech and brittle disillusion.”
The action takes place in the home of author Charles Condomine’s and wife, Ruth’s, home in 1940’s Kent, England. Charles has invited Dr. and Mrs. Bradman to a dinner party as a ruse to lure the eccentric local psychic, Madame Arcati into conducting a séance in order to exploit the unsuspecting Arcati as research for his next novel.
During the séance Charles’ first wife, Elvira, is inexplicably conjured and her playful antics upend Charles’ life and cause Ruth to think he’s gone mad. After a few disturbing days, Ruth – now at wits end – implores Arcati to intervene and send Elvira back to wherever she came from.
Psychic, manic maneuvers ensue which I won’t spoil for you.
The cast is to be congratulated for its tenacity to bring this show to the boards in that it lost two of its actors to illness just four days before opening. Stepping into the supporting role of the maid, Edith, and the major role of Charles’ second wife, Ruth, are Natalie Hansen and Krissy Wheeler both of whom brought in laudable performances despite needing to discreetly carry scripts which they did very ably and did not create a big distraction.
Jaren Schoustra as Charles’ deceased first wife creates a delightfully playful Elivira but they need to watch their projection and Esteban Lopez delivered a properly proper yet fantastically frazzled Charles Condomine. The iconic role of Madame Arcati is taken on by Anna Kronenberger. Her portrayal was a bit more on the hysterical side than the lovable ditzy side.
This is only Grey White’s second foray into directing and it showed. Michael Turcznski’s solid set design was not supported by appropriate set dressing. There were numerous anachronisms for the time period, pictures were poorly hung, and none of the costuming even vaguely comes close to 1940’s fashion and the crew did not clear a cocktail glass left on the piano nor did they pick up record albums left on the floor through the entire play. Elvira was dressed in a black negligée that appeared to have been taken right out of its packaging without ironing the very obvious packing creases and was paired with white cotton anklets. However, I really liked the touch of white body makeup to enhance a ghostly appearance. There was also no attempt whatsoever at 1940’s hair styles for any of the characters. In other words, the production made a good effort but fell short of a “veddy, veddy,” prim and proper upper class British comedy.
BUT...one can look past these drawbacks for a good performance, however it is attention to detail that takes a “good” performance to a “great” performance.
Blythe Spirit continues at Playcrafters Barn Theatre, 4950 35th Avenue in Moline, Friday and Saturday, October 31 and November 1 at 7:30pm and Sunday, November 2 at 3:00pm
I’m Chris Hicks...break a leg.